PL 110-181: Veterans may now render the military salute to the flag.

U.S. Government Printing Office Web Site ^ | 28 Jan 2008 | United States Congress

[TXnMA]

Public Law 110-181, Section 594:

SEC. 594. CONDUCT BY MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES AND VETERANS OUT OF UNIFORM DURING HOISTING, LOWERING, OR PASSING OF UNITED STATES FLAG.

Section 9 of title 4, United States Code, is amended by striking ``all persons present'' and all that follows through the end of the section and inserting the following: ``all persons present in uniform should render the military salute. Members of the Armed Forces

[[Page 122 STAT. 139]]

and veterans who are present but not in uniform may render the military salute. All other persons present should face the flag and stand at attention with their right hand over the heart, or if applicable, remove their headdress with their right hand and hold it at the left shoulder, the hand being over the heart. Citizens of other countries present should stand at attention. All such conduct toward the flag in a moving column should be rendered at the moment the flag passes.''.

[TXnMA]

My daughter (Captain, Army Medical Service Corps) just called me to inform me that the “National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008” (P.L. 110-181) that was signed into law by President Bush on 28 JAN 2008 -- authorizes Veterans and military (in civilian clothes) to honor our flag with the military salute!

(I do not see that it authorizes the military salute during the National Anthem, however...)

The Fourth of July is rapidly approaching. Fellow veterans: let's get out and salute our flag!!!

(I searched and could not find this posted on FR.)

[inkling]

Interesting change. But it will still feel weird to salute “in civvies”!

[HiJinx]

Yes, it’ll be different, but I’ll be out there saluting anyway.

[knarf]

It feels equally weird to not be able to give a proper salute.

I always have the urge to stand at attention, but somehow, the hand over heart position just doesn't feel right at attention, but for respect of the reg., I never saluted the flag ... NOW, by God (and I mean that .. HE gave us this land) .. I will stand at attention and salute.

[razorback-bert]

My hand goes to my forehead first.

Brings to mind everyone running for buildings, when they see the guard heading for the flagpole.

Have a good Fourth.

[TXnMA]

" But it will still feel weird to salute “in civvies”!"

Yes, indeed.

But, as far as I can tell, it is certainly not required. OTOH, I admit that there have been moments of high patriotic feeling when I felt like rendering the military (as opposed to hand-over-the-heart) salute.

You can bet I will take advantage of this next Veterans Day when my granddaughter's school holds its annual special program to honor us veterans!

[Billthedrill]

...and veterans who are present but not in uniform may render the military salute.

YES! I've taken to doing it anyway when covered (I'm Navy), but it's nice to make it official. Yesyesyes...and a BTT.

[Calif4Bush]

Thank God for our country!

May this be one step closer to the citizen showing their love for this great country!

Thank God for our country!

[RavenATB]

“Brings to mind everyone running for buildings, when they see the guard heading for the flagpole.”

I have to ask...are you talking about an Air Force base?

[Sergio]

Very nice. Good to have the option. Sometimes you feel like only a salute will do.

[Baynative]

I've always saluted. It just felt right.

No one has ever objected or told me I was wrong.

[LiteKeeper]

I plan on being there with a proper military hand salute!

[Dogbert41]

I see it’s dated January, but I hadn’t seen this before. Thanks!!!

[going hot]

does civvies change who you are?

[shibumi]

Go to the local Legion or VFW post, join up and get a “cover.”

Problem solved.

[Graybeard58]

At a military funeral I watched as an Army Major General saluted during “Taps”. His right arm was around the lady next to him (presumably his wife) so he saluted left handed.

[TXnMA]

IMHO, even if the lady was in tears, an O-8 should have been smart enough to move to her right...

[rabidralph]

Cool! Can’t wait to try it out.

[ETL]

John Kerry, from his book, The New Soldier:

"We will not quickly join those who march on Veterans' Day waving small [American] flags, calling to memory those thousands who died for the "greater glory of the United States."..."

"The John Kerry quote comes in the epilogue to "The New Soldier," the book put out by Vietnam Veterans Against the War [VVAW]. The book's cover features a group of not-particularly sober-looking anti-war protesters (vets, presumably) flying the American flag upside down [while mocking the historic flag raising event at Iwo Jima]":
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1203164/posts

Note John Kerry's name at top right of The New Soldier

So John Kerry would have a difficult time marching with those waving small American flags yet had NO problems marching with those waving HUGE VIETCONG FLAGS?

"Pictured above: VVAW-supported demonstration during the Washington Spring Offensive, April - May 1971. Notice the North Vietnamese and Viet Cong flags."

[rabidralph]

LOL!

[Volunteer]

I think this is a nice change but I am reminded of Robert E. Lee when he was president of Washington College (now Washington and Lee University). When he would march with the cadets, he would purposely march out of step.

He had returned to civilian life.

I treasure the time I spent as a soldier and I am thankful for those who serve today. I will put my hand over my heart. I am a civilian now.

[Kitanis]

Interesting information to know.

I have been retired for almost a year and three times I almost put up a salute when outdoors to a national anthem playing.

Now that I can do it with knowledge of the law...:-)

[TXnMA]

"I treasure the time I spent as a soldier and I am thankful for those who serve today. I will put my hand over my heart. I am a civilian now. "

And that is what still makes us a FReeRepublic...

[Billthedrill]

Kerry salutes like a little girl. BTT.

[antiunion person]

I love this new law. That’s all I have to say about this topic.

[Diver Dave]

I heard about PL 110-118 back in Feb or March. I’ve been proudly saluting since I read about it and even before it became law.

Matter of fact, I’ve been breaking the law... I’ve saluted the colors for several years now

[eyedigress]

I place my hand over my heart now, but saluting is OK with me as long as it’s an acceptable address by the USA. :^)

[eyedigress]

I would give that a bit of pass. His heart was right, and thats what counts. :^)

[Graybeard58]

I would give that a bit of pass. His heart was right, and thats what counts

I was an E4, I didn't correct him.

[eyedigress]

Good Career Move. LOL

[strongbow]

I’ve always had an instinct to salute when the colors are flown and the anthem played since I retired. Glad to know it is now part of military protocol. Will try it out this Friday. Proud to be an American and be part of all the men who have gone before me.

[LongElegantLegs]

I have to ask...Are you talking about an Air Force Base?

The Marines do it too. :-)

It's hard to truly appreciate these things when you're young, enlisted and hungry.

[quintr]

I am so glad that veterans can be recognized as they salute the flag of the United States and when I see these veterans, I will have my hand over my heart saluting them and the flat. Thank you, each and every veteran, for serving our country with such honor. It’s time you were set aside with a special honor of being able to offer a military salute to our nation’s flag.

[Polybius]

Interesting change. But it will still feel weird to salute “in civvies”!

And "uncoverd".

[Ben Reyes]

I render the honors whenever I am outdoors, covered (with a hat). As a retired Marine, I am compelled to do so, whether or not there is a reg behind it.

Without a hat, outdoors, I put my right hand over my heart.

On saluting, my 3-year old grandson and I were at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery in San Diego during Memorial Day. Taps played at the conclusion of the holiday festivities. I stood at attention and saluted, just like many veterans and active duty personnel on the cemetery grounds. And out of the corner of my eye, I saw my grandson also standing at attention, saluting the flag as it was being lowered to half-mast across the cemetery. It brought tears to my eye.

[GATOR NAVY]

YES! I've taken to doing it anyway when covered (I'm Navy), but it's nice to make it official.The first thing I thought of was I still refuse to sit at a table with a cover on and I won't salute without a cover on. Outdoors, with a cover on, I will.

[quintr]

“flat” should have been “flag.” sorry.

Just an afterthought and an additional way of honoring all our vets, they are asked to stand up in our church service on Veterans Day. I think it’s good for all of us to have an opportunity to recognize our valuable veterans. It’s good for the kiddos to see who they are as well.

I’m glad our church makes a big deal out of their service. (Jane and I are members of a Lutheran church, by the way.)

[bruinbirdman]

"I place my hand over my heart now, but saluting is OK with me as long as it’s an acceptable address by the USA."

Hussein will claim responsibility for the PL as part of his new definition of patriotism.

yitbos

[timydnuc]

I will be rendering an Airborne salute to my flag this Independence Day parade, and I will do it with pride, respect and humility. It is good that every Vet should have that right. I’ve always felt better saluting our flag because I earned that right through blood, sweat, and tears and I’m proud of it. I would have died for this great nation if I had to, but I lived. There are names on a wall in Washington D.C. that didn’t, they were my brothers and I owe my life to them. I think of them often and I honor them daily. We lose the finest in war, but war keeps us free. This is the price of freedom. They paid so that we can live, God bless everyone of them. Remember, as you see our flag that the blue is for honor, the white is for purity, and the red is for the blood shed to procure and sustain liberty. God hold and keep my brothers I may be there soon.

[rlmorel]

When I was a kid, nearly EVERY kid ran like hell when they heard the low hiss and rumble of the loudspeaker come on right near that time...

I have to admit, it is kind of funny...just to even get under an overhang on a building or something...:)

However, I don’t remember ever doing that when I was in the Navy myself.

And, I will salute.

[TexasRedeye]

I treasure the time I spent as a soldier and I am thankful for those who serve today. I will put my hand over my heart. I am a civilian now.

Obviously a salute is "optional" but I will salute. Even though I have been a civilian for many years, I am still an "old soldier" at heart.

[vetvetdoug]

I remember USAF Regulation 35-10 required us to wear our dress blues every June 6th. Just another quirk in the USAF regulation. All came to a standstill every evening when the colours were retired. Now I can again offer our flag a salute....nice.....

[metesky]

I’m not a veteran, never having had the honor to serve, but at our annual parades, including the 4th, I’m constantly disgusted by the fact that only myself and a few other old farts remove our caps when the flag comes by. Sometimes I just feel like yelling, but I save that for the phoney politcos marching.

[cyclotic]

I’m not a veteran (one of the biggest regrets of my life) and I envy you guys for being able to render a proper salute.

I’m honored to be a scout leader, so I do get the opportunity to properly respect our flag when in the scout uniform

[TXnMA]

"And out of the corner of my eye, I saw my grandson also standing at attention, saluting the flag as it was being lowered to half-mast across the cemetery. It brought tears to my eye."

Hmmm... I've been wondering how my eyes are going to fare the first time I take advantage of this law...

[Ben Reyes]

The thought of my grandson growing up to be a patriot like his Dad, also a U.S. Marine who just came back from his third tour from Iraq, is enough to bring tears to this old fart.

[TXnMA]

"I’m honored to be a scout leader, so I do get the opportunity to properly respect our flag when in the scout uniform"

I'm an old Scouter, and I now serve by doing flintknapping ("arrowhead-making") demonstrations at BSA events.

A few years ago at a Jamboree, when I saw the honor guard starting to form, I put down my tools and joined the Scouts on the field where they were assembling.

I was standing at attention, rendering the civilian salute to the Anthem [it has been decades since my Scout uniform last fit] , '-) when a couple of female Scouters (in full uniform) came sauntering toward me (with their backs to the flag) -- yakking away... So I called up my old 'parade ground voice' and advised them that was time to face the flag and salute. And, even though they had a hard time deciding which salute (civilian, Cub or Scout) to render, they at least turned around and gave it a try.

After the ceremony, I "read them the riot act", reminded them that they were supposed to be setting good example, and suggested that they go home, study the Scout Manual section on flag etiquette -- and teach it at their next pack/troop meeting. Sheepishly, they promised to do so...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Last year, when I went to the assembly field, one of them came up to me, and proudly pointed out her troop (which was lined up in a perfect rank -- at parade rest). After she and her scouts had rendered picture-perfect honors, she came over to my demo station and thanked me!

Sometimes it amazes me -- what a gray-bearded old codger can get away with -- and accomplish -- by setting an example! ;-)

We now have new opportunities...

[TXnMA]

Even though I intended this post primarily for veterans, I neglected to post it to the VetsCoR Forum. Is there any way you can fix my oversight -- especially since tomorrow is Independence Day...?

TIA!

TXnMA

[cyclotic]

Thank you sir, you just made my decision for me. Something similar happened to me last week at Cub Scout day camp. I mentioned to the camp director that perhaps we could spend a few minutes at flags to teach the younger cubs and not a few parents what their responsibilities are to the flag. She later asked if I would consider teaching a session on scout skills including flag etiquette at next years day camp.

I’m not sure how well it will work to keep it engaging for the kids, but I’m going to do it.

[TXnMA]

"I’m not sure how well it will work to keep it engaging for the kids, but I’m going to do it."

The kids "eat it up" -- especially if you can show them a video clip of a real military honor guard raising and lowering the flag... You will be amazed at how sharp those kids can be when emulating real heroes!

Better yet, invite in some live heroes from the VFW or American Legion for a demo. Your "kids" will make new friends - and have some genuine heroes to emulate...