It’s Legal For Veterans To Salute The Flag

We think it is appropriate to remind military veterans, on this Independence Day, that it is perfectly legal for them to salute Old Glory; today and every day.  When the American flag passes by in a parade, or when the National Anthem is played at a public event, it has always been required of military personnel, policemen, and firemen, to stand at attention and render a military salute; provided they were in uniform.  When not in uniform, they were encouraged—along with all civilians—to salute by placing their right hand over their heart, as a universal sign of respect.

There were a few exceptions to this rule that persons not in uniform could render a military salute:  the President and Secretary of Defense could return a military salute, and members of the American Legion and VFW could salute the flag while wearing their distinctive campaign hats.

But recently, a little-known provision of the Defense Authorization Act—which took effect October 14, 2009—changed federal law to allow U.S. veterans and military personnel not in uniform to render the military hand-salute when the national anthem is played.  This change adds to a provision which was passed in the 2008 Defense Bill, which authorized veterans and military personnel in civilian clothes to render the military salute during the raising, lowering or passing of the flag.

When the new law took effect, then-Department of Veteran Affairs Secretary Dr. James B. Peake said, “This provision allows the application of that honor in all events involving our nation’s flag.”  U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe of Oklahoma, an Army veteran, sponsored both pieces of legislation.

“The salute is a form of honor and respect, representing pride in one’s military service,” Inhofe said in a written statement. “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.”

So, the next time you’re at a Louisville Bats baseball game, and the guy standing next to you in civvies is giving a military salute during the singing of the Star Spangled Banner, if he’s not the President or Secretary of Defense, he’s probably a veteran.  It would be nice if you bought him a beer and thanked him for his service to your country.