Fonda said that the lettering for the honors were lightly sewn, I call this tacking, one or two long stitches to temporarily hold the lettering in place before stitching permanently. Tacking is the same method that was used to apply backing to the flags, wool backing as in this flag, netting on others, to help preserve it. This method did more damage then good.

If say, the flag maker “goofed” on the honors and the lettering was removed in the field by the 37th, then the coloring of the field, faded by sun, dust, etc. would be the same, the “shadow” of the lettering would have disappeared.

One could speculate, since tacking was used on the lettering, similar to how backing was applied, that the lettering for the honors was added, mistakenly or on purpose, at the time the backing was. If the flag was displayed in a lighted room, even for a short period, the material of the lettering would have protected the field from fading, and after removal produce the deference of color or “shadow”.

Happy Trails!
Tom Martin
www.Confederate-flags.org