Posted on 02/08/2009 9:06:14 AM PST by obamaisandrogynous
http://www.rlcil.org/2009/02/08/an-open-letter-to-the-editor-of-the-concord-monitor-mr-president-please-salute-fdr-did/
Dear Editors –
I was taken aback when I read the ill-informed piece in The Concord Monitor, headlined, “No Salute, Please.” This Jan. 22, 2009 piece claims that President Reagan initiated the Presidential salute — i.e. returning the salute of a uniformed military officer of enlisted man.
Contrary to the myth-making by the article’s author, the salute by the president is not of recent provenance. Indeed, liberal hero President Franklin Delano Roosevelt — whom many of today’s Obammysoxers see in their American idol – was known to salute the troops. He was, after all, their commander-in-chief, during a war.
Source: President Roosevelt saluting from a car at Fort Lewis, Wash., 1942, http://history1900s.about.com/library/photos/blyfdr4.htm, . By law, the President is part of the National Command Authority — along with the Secretary of Defense. Combatant commanders in the field have direct access to him. It is fitting and proper for the president to return a salute from a soldier, sailor or airman, as it is fitting and proper for a president to salute the U.S. flag.
Please correct the egregious error in your paper.
(Excerpt) Read more at rlcil.org ...
I’m sure Obama salutes the military descretely with one finger. I’m often prone to salute him that way myself.
http://www.ronaldreagan.com/tradition.html
PRESIDENTIAL TRADITION - the words of Ronald Reagan
I never ceased to enjoy reviewing our men and women in uniform and hope I started a new tradition for presidents.
As commander in chief, I discovered it was customary for our uniformed men and women to salute whenever they saw me. When I’d walk down the steps of a helicopter, for example, there was always a marine waiting there to salute me.
I was told presidents weren’t supposed to return salutes, so I didn’t, but this made me feel a little uncomfortable. Normally, a person offering a salute waits until it is returned, then brings down his hand.
Sometimes, I realized, the soldier, sailor, marine, or airman giving me a salute wasn’t sure when he was supposed to lower his hand. Initially, I nodded and smiled and said hello and thought maybe that would bring down the hand, but usually it didn’t.
Finally, one night when Nancy and I were attending a concert at the Marine Corps headquarters, I told the commandant of marines, “I know it’s customary for the president to receive these salutes, but I was once an officer and realize that you’re not supposed to salute when you’re in civilian clothes. I think there ought to be a regulation that the president could return a salute inasmuch as he is commander in chief and civilian clothes are his uniform.”
“Well, if you did return a salute,” the general said, “I don’t think anyone would say anything to you about it.”
The next time I got a salute, I saluted back. A big grin came over the marine’s face and down came his hand. From then on, I always returned salutes. When George Bush followed me into the White House, I encouraged him to keep up the tradition.
Courtesy of Simon and Schuster
Not sure where I saw it, but I saw a clip of Obama returning a salute. I still don’t like him, but I was gratified to see him at least pretend to respect the military.
Do you think they took the time to even know the truth.
FWIW....As a former General I think he may be a good person to follow.
I had a close friend who was a chopper pilot on Marine one for both Carter and Reagan. When Carter was president the crews would be invited in to watch movies and would sit in the back of the room. The lights would go out and then Carter and Rosaline would come in and sit down and be given popcorn and something to drink. The crew were offered nothing. When the movie was over Carter would leave before the lights went on, never acknowledging the presence of the crews.
The first trip to Camp David under Reagan the crews went into the movie viewing room and the lights went out. Reagan came in and asked why the lights were out, then asked they be turned on so he could visit with the crews for a while. After talking to the crews for a few minutes the lights went out and he was brought popcorn. He then asked where everyone else’s was and demanded everyone be given popcorn. When the movie was over he sat in the room and waited till the lights went on so he could reminisce with the crews on his old Hollywood days. The crews loved him.
Reagan was not just one of our greatest presidents, but as humble and kind a man as you’d ever want for a leader.
Your posting was classic Reagan. All he cared about was how he could ease the discomfort and confusion of an enlisted man, and not how he came off to the public.
Personally, I do not want to see him saluting—too many Soldiers, Sailors, Marines, and Airmen have EARNED the right to salute.
RR was a former officer; FDR was an assistant secretary of the Navy during The Great War.
Too,he was responsible for authorizing U.S. Marines to wear the Globe and Anchor on their uniforms. During WW I—while visiting troops overseas at that time he discovered that Marines—wearing US Army uniforms—were not authorized the use of their Marine Corps emblems on their uniforms—he (FDR) immediately saw to it that they were authorized to do so!
Semper Fidelis
Dick Gaines
~~~~~~~~~~
Surely, there were salutes during General Washington’s time as POTUS.
Really great story. Thanks.
Thanks for mentioning it. He saluted during the Inaugural Parade (which I didn't watch). This is the first, and is likely to be the only time I have bothered to find/post a photo of our current prez. But truth is truth, and I refuse to be unfair to anyone just for the sake of doing so. There's a whole universe of policy differences I have with O, and I'll save my skewering of him for that arena.
President Barack Obama and Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Gary Roughead salute during the inaugural parade in Washington, Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2009. (This must have been when the Navy contingent marched before the reviewing stand.)
Note, however, that in this particular photo, Mrs. O has her back to the Navy. Since this is the ONLY image I have ever seen of the parade, I don't know how she acted throughout, but couldn't she spare a moment to pretend to respect the Navy?
That is an outstanding story- thank you for sharing.
It is always puzzling to me how Carter, as a USNA graduate and religious man, could have been so selfish and cold to others, except in publicly staged events.
in interest of fairness, let’s give this picture of Mrs O a pass- she is talking to someone behind her
after all the parade was 7 hours long
(Bamsters salute looks sharper than those of John effin Kerry- someone tutored him)
no love for Michelemybelle, but it looks like she’s tended to the kids...
tended = tending
I understand what you are saying, however he IS the Commander IN Chief. I am not military so I don’t know the protocol, but from what I have seen it seems like the enlisted person initiates the salute, then the President answers that salute, so if the President does not salute he is showing disrespect for that enlisted person.
So has he not been saluting? I saw him do it once, but I don’t SEE him much. My eyes are sensitive that way:)
I live close to a base, and often salute aircraft as they come in on final (Mainly AF aircraft from my old unit, Navy aircraft, not so much).
When I'm outside and hear retreat from the base, it's almost impossible for me to NOT face the music and render a salute.
/johnny
I thouhgt it was only proper for a CIC who had served in the miliatry to salute? Am I wrong on that ?
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