Memorial Day

[5thumbs]

With Memorial Day approaching I thought about some of the friends I've lost, and decided to start attending the village celebrations once again; I've missed some in the past few years.

One of the things I've never been comfortable with is the "civilian" hand-over-heart salute during the national anthem. When honoring the fallen I always want to use a proper military salute, but remembered being told upon discharge in 1971 that this was not allowed for people out of uniform.

On a whim, I searched and found this:

VA.gov | Veterans Affairs

Apply for and manage the VA benefits and services you’ve earned as a Veteran, Servicemember, or family member—like health care, disability, education, and more.

www.va.gov

Am I the only vet that didn't know this? This was passed in 2008. I was a little late getting the memo, I guess.

So it appears that I am allowed to salute in a proper fashion! I will do so this weekend.

 

[lungimsam]

I saw a veteran on a bicycle salute a guy in a car with veteran license plates before!!!

I say let current and former military salute if they want. It’s their group.
Civilians , hand over heart.
I mean, why would you salute if you were never in the military? How silly would that be. To me that’s a gesture between servicemen only. I have no rank, never having served, so how could I give or receive a salute since I have no rank?!?!

BTW, in the old war movies, I think Lee Marvin has the snappiest salutes. Comes off with equal measures of respect and contempt for whoever he is throwing it at!!! Too funny!!!!

 

[FNG]

I saw a veteran on a bicycle salute a guy in a car with veteran license plates before!!!

I say let current and former military salute if they want. It’s their group.
Civilians , hand over heart.
I mean, why would you salute if you were never in the military? How silly would that be. To me that’s a gesture between servicemen only. I have no rank, never having served, so how could I give or receive a salute since I have no rank?!?!

BTW, in the old war movies, I think Lee Marvin has the snappiest salutes. Comes off with equal measures of respect and contempt for whoever he is throwing it at!!! Too funny!!!!

 

[Roland]

I don't think anyone cares or anyone is enforcing how you decide to show your respect. Hand over heart, salute, do what makes you feel best. I doubt you will be judged by it.

 

[chazmo]

5thumbs,

I'd never heard of that before about out-of-uniform salutes. Interesting. But, honestly I agree completely with Roland. No one would ever judge you on that.

 

[fronobulax]

When I was a Cub, and later Boy, Scout, we were taught to always acknowledge the flag during the National Anthem. If we were in a scout uniform we used a salute, otherwise it was a hand over the heart. Of course the scout salute was not identical to a military salute but I expect very few people would notice since anyone who was watching how someone else was saluting was being in some way disrespectful, or at least distracted.

 

[Guildedagain]

Never forget what so many died to protect, freedom from oppression.

I honor that by staunchly believing in "liberty and justice for all".

Never forget.

 

[5thumbs]

It seems that maybe I was over-thinking this.

Thanks for all the replies!

 

[davismanLV]

Don is a veteran, four years in the Navy. Since he's not actively serving any more, he doesn't salute because he's not in uniform. We both just do hand over heart.

 

[davismanLV]

Another thing I didn't know about. What a cool thing this is!!

 

[fronobulax]

Really? You don't like it when people put their hands on their hearts for the national anthem?

It's what's taught and expected. What should folks to do? Pretend they're in the army? I don't get it.

=O.

Perhaps you should reread the original post.

One of the things I've never been comfortable with is the "civilian" hand-over-heart salute during the national anthem. When honoring the fallen I always want to use a proper military salute, but remembered being told upon discharge in 1971 that this was not allowed for people out of uniform.

It is clear enough that the concern is from a veteran not being able to use a military salute and no opinion is expressed about what non-veterans do.

I find your response somewhat offensive.

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

Perhaps you should reread the original post.

Actually, I thought I deleted that post instead of postring it. Guess not. I'll go do irt now.

 

[fronobulax]

Actually, I thought I deleted that post instead of postring it. Guess not. I'll go do irt now.

In which case I withdraw my feeling of not comfortable with your response because we all make mistakes and if you had intended to delete you probably weren't comfortable either.

 

[chazmo]

Another thing I didn't know about. What a cool thing this is!!

I like this, and I too was unaware.

There is a Jewish tradition of leaving a stone on a grave marker when you visit it. Perhaps that inspired this cool idea.

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

In which case I withdraw my feeling of not comfortable with your response because we all make mistakes and if you had intended to delete you probably weren't comfortable either.

Thanks! At this point I can't remember what either of us said!

 

[dreadnut]

We always put our hands over our hearts in grade school while reciting the Pledge of Allegiance.

Some people put their hand over their hearts when they play the National Anthem at ball games, etc.

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

We always put our hands over our hearts in grade school while reciting the Pledge of Allegiance.

Some people put their hand over their hearts when they play the National Anthem at ball games, etc.

Yeah, that's how they taught (or tried to teach) us to do it.