Patriotic Shirts That'll Make You Proud to be an American

Patriotic apparel is not only fashionable, but it is also a great way to show your American pride and love of country. Service pride is something that can easily be displayed by the wearing of patriotic apparel. Patriotic shirts, are definitely the best way to show everyone your patriotic side.

While some people might argue that patriotic shirts that have a U.S. flag on it is not patriotic since it violates U.S. Code, in particular rules about the U.S. flag, there are easy workarounds if you want to show love of country and service loyalty. Here are some ideas for patriotic shirts.

Patriotic Shirts

Whether it is a custom polo shirt, or an off the rack t-shirt, military shirts make great patriotic shirts, and they can be worn in a variety of situations. Patriotic shirts can be worn for Veterans Day, Memorial Day, and Independence Day. In addition to the days previously mentioned, if you are a member of a veterans’ service organization, these are great to wear to meetings and organizational events.

If you’re still on active duty, the Guard or reserve, consider buying something that shows your esprit de corps in your specialty. Polo shirts are great for more formal unit events like community service, golf outings or even casual off-duty unit functions. T-shirts are certainly more casual, and you can wear those to unit barbecues or other similar outdoor type of functions.

Polo Shirts

Nicer patriotic shirts are polo shirts. Much like the custom rank hats, these can be customized to order with name, rank, and rank insignia. Put as little or as much as you like on this performance clothing item. It won’t disappoint and it is a popular patriotic shirt. This item is great for golfers or if a unit wants a to sport a uniform look at events, like a cookout or a community service project.

If you are shopping for a service member because they expressed interest in patriotic shirts, the key is to know what they will like. Customized and personalized patriotic shirts are great for those who are serving because it enables them to show their pride while still in uniform. For veterans or retirees, the patriotic shirts enable them to show their service pride, but it also reconnects them to a significant part of the lives. Customized patriotic shirts make great gifts.

T-Shirts

You’ve heard the phrase, been there, done that, got the t-shirt. Well, you can actually get a great patriotic shirt that allows you to show everyone where you’ve been and what you’ve done. USAMM has a wide selection of t-shirts from service branch specific to military occupational specialties. 

Hoodies

Okay, hoodies might not be patriotic shirts, but the rise of hoodies as a fashionable clothing item cannot be denied and we thought it was important to include hoodies in this post given the hoodie is now one of the most popular clothing items around. Like patriotic shirts, hoodies can be customized in some cases, but there are also plenty of choices to help you show your patriotism, including hoodies that show occupational loyalty like infantry, aviation, armor, military police, etc.

Sweaters

A lot of sweater manufacturers make patriotic apparel. High-end brands known for using the American flag as an attractive symbol to lure consumers are popular. As mentioned, 4 U.S. Code subsection 8 outlines what can/can’t be done with the American flag, but the American public seems flexible about how the flag is used.

For example, did you know that the U.S. flag cannot be carried flat, but in many professional sporting events giant flags are carried flat onto the field for the National Anthem, and many times they are carried by military personnel. The intent of the sporting event isn’t to desecrate or dishonor the flag, so that is likely overlooked by many Americans. The same goes with clothing. While having an American flag on an item of clothing is technically illegal, most companies create the clothing items to celebrate America and her freedoms.

To arm you with knowledge, we are providing the U.S. Code as it applies to the American flag just in case that’s a line you don’t want to cross.

No disrespect should be shown to the flag of the United States of America; the flag should not be dipped to any person or thing. Regimental colors, State flags, and organization or institutional flags are to be dipped as a mark of honor.

(a) The flag should never be displayed with the union down, except as a signal of dire distress in instances of extreme danger to life or property.

(b) The flag should never touch anything beneath it, such as the ground, the floor, water, or merchandise.

(c) The flag should never be carried flat or horizontally, but always aloft and free.

(d) The flag should never be used as wearing apparel, bedding, or drapery. It should never be festooned, drawn back, nor up, in folds, but always allowed to fall free. Bunting of blue, white, and red, always arranged with the blue above, the white in the middle, and the red below, should be used for covering a speaker’s desk, draping the front of the platform, and for decoration in general.

(e) The flag should never be fastened, displayed, used, or stored in such a manner as to permit it to be easily torn, soiled, or damaged in any way.

(f) The flag should never be used as a covering for a ceiling.

(g) The flag should never have placed upon it, nor on any part of it, nor attached to it any mark, insignia, letter, word, figure, design, picture, or drawing of any nature.

(h) The flag should never be used as a receptacle for receiving, holding, carrying, or delivering anything.

(i) The flag should never be used for advertising purposes in any manner whatsoever. It should not be embroidered on such articles as cushions or handkerchiefs and the like, printed or otherwise impressed on paper napkins or boxes or anything that is designed for temporary use and discard. Advertising signs should not be fastened to a staff or halyard from which the flag is flown.

(j) No part of the flag should ever be used as a costume or athletic uniform. However, a flag patch may be affixed to the uniform of military personnel, firemen, policemen, and members of patriotic organizations. The flag represents a living country and is itself considered a living thing. Therefore, the lapel flag pin being a replica, should be worn on the left lapel near the heart.

(k) The flag, when it is in such condition that it is no longer a fitting emblem for display, should be destroyed in a dignified way, preferably by burning.