“I’m a vet, and I never sing the anthem.
Stand at attention with hand on heart is more respectful behavior.”
Senator McCain wrote some bill that says you can salute as a veteran out of uniform. And... it was passed. I never agreed with that.
Stan at attention hand over heart and if you’re holding a hat - the hand still goes over your heart not the Hat. Position the hat appropriately. Holding the hat in the opposite hand really might not be approved for the position of attention. That’s nitpicky, but if you’ve done honors and ceremonies and understand the Boarding Party Manual(?) It might be explained in painstakingly accurate detail.
Lots of people never shift the position of the Hat and cover their heart with the hat. That bugs me.
Personally I think intention is most important, not rules.
To each his own.