Sunday, February 15, 2009
Vets can now salute the flag!
For years, Veterans have wanted to salute the U.S. flag during the Pledge of Allegiance and the National Anthem instead of just placing their hand over their heart. Now they can. A Congressional Amendment sponsored by Senator James Inhofe (R-OK) in the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2009 specifically states that “members of the Armed Forces and Veterans who are present but not in uniform may render the military salute.” Veterans can salute the flag during the National Anthem as well as during “the hoisting, lowering and passing of the flag.” “The salute is a form of honor and respect, representing pride in one’s military service,” said Inhofe. “Veterans and service members continue representing the military services even when not in uniform. The U.S. Code is now consistent for Veterans and all service members in regards to the symbolic gesture of the military salute.”
The lawThe exact wording of the law is as follows:
PUBLIC LAW 110–181—JAN. 28, 2008
122 STAT. 139 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 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.”
“Veterans who are present but not in uniform may render the military salute.”This law was amended to address other parts of the United States Code that were inadvertently not amended by the above legislation; the amendment reads:
122 STAT. 4476 PUBLIC LAW 110–417—OCT. 14, 2008 SEC. 595.
MILITARY SALUTE FOR THE FLAG DURING THE NATIONAL ANTHEM BY MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES NOT IN UNIFORM AND BY VETERANS.
Section 301(b)(1) of title 36, United States Code, is amended by striking subparagraphs (A) through (C) and inserting the following new subparagraphs:
“(A) individuals in uniform should give the military salute at the first note of the anthem and maintain that position until the last note;
“(B) members of the Armed Forces and veterans who are present but not in uniform may render the military salute in the manner provided for individuals in uniform; and
“(C) all other persons present should face the flag and stand at attention with their right hand over the heart, and men not in uniform, if applicable, should remove their headdress with their right hand and hold it at the left shoulder, the hand being over the heart; and”.
A discussion of this law and its amendments can be found on The Daily Flag website.
years, Veterans have wanted to salute the U.S. flag during the Pledge of Allegiance and the National Anthem instead of just placing their hand over their heart. Now they can. A Congressional Amendment sponsored by Senator James Inhofe (R-OK) in the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2009 specifically states that “members of the Armed Forces and Veterans who are present but not in uniform may render the military salute.” Veterans can salute the flag during the National Anthem as well as during “the hoisting, lowering and passing of the flag.” “The salute is a form of honor and respect, representing pride in one’s military service,” said Inhofe. “Veterans and service members continue representing the military services even when not in uniform. The U.S. Code is now consistent for Veterans and all service members in regards to the symbolic gesture of the military salute.”
The lawThe exact wording of the law is as follows:
PUBLIC LAW 110–181—JAN. 28, 2008
122 STAT. 139 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 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.”
“Veterans who are present but not in uniform may render the military salute.”This law was amended to address other parts of the United States Code that were inadvertently not amended by the above legislation; the amendment reads:
122 STAT. 4476 PUBLIC LAW 110–417—OCT. 14, 2008 SEC. 595.
MILITARY SALUTE FOR THE FLAG DURING THE NATIONAL ANTHEM BY MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES NOT IN UNIFORM AND BY VETERANS.
Section 301(b)(1) of title 36, United States Code, is amended by striking subparagraphs (A) through (C) and inserting the following new subparagraphs:
“(A) individuals in uniform should give the military salute at the first note of the anthem and maintain that position until the last note;
“(B) members of the Armed Forces and veterans who are present but not in uniform may render the military salute in the manner provided for individuals in uniform; and
“(C) all other persons present should face the flag and stand at attention with their right hand over the heart, and men not in uniform, if applicable, should remove their headdress with their right hand and hold it at the left shoulder, the hand being over the heart; and”.
A discussion of this law and its amendments can be found on The Daily Flag website.
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