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.

[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!