[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”!

[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!

[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!!!

[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.

[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."

[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.

[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

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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]

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

[LonePalm]

I'm waiting on the phone to Curtis Sliwa who is subbing for Sean Hannity and will put this out to Sean's audience.

Garde la Foi, mes amis! Nous nous sommes les sauveurs de la République! Maintenant et Toujours!
(Keep the Faith, my friends! We are the saviors of the Republic! Now and Forever!)
LonePalm, le Républicain du verre cassé (The Broken Glass Republican)

[gnarledmaw]

Good. Veterans, should they wish, should be distinguishable from the rest of the citizenry.

Now how do we get this to be a recognized part of our culture?

"I think the court ruling[Heller] is correct — all law-abiding people should be able to keep and carry a firearm. It would be a deterrent for those non-professional thugs who think they can bully people around the U.S.

When you see someone wearing a gun, you know not to mess with them and normally the people who wear a gun knows and respects the laws of the land. 99.9 percent of the military — active, prior and retired — know and respect the law. It should be a no-brainer for all that have served to openly carry as a sign of deterrence and respect."

Michael Solon, retired USAF