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Legislation Would Allow Salute to the Flag

Legislation sponsored by U.S. Senator Jim Inhofe (S.1877) clarifies U.S. law to allow veterans and servicemen not in uniform to salute the flag. Current law (US Code Title 4, Chapter 1) states that veterans and servicemen not in uniform should place their hand over their heart without clarifying whether they can or should salute the flag. The bill passed in the Senate recently by unanimous consent.




ALL ACTIONS:

7/25/2007:
    Introduced in the Senate, read twice, considered, read the third time, and passed without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S10045; text as passed Senate: CR S10045)
7/26/2007 10:04am:
    Received in the House.
7/26/2007:
    Message on Senate action sent to the House.
7/26/2007:
    Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

Little mixed on this one.
Although I love my good ole salute...I have done my time and have moved back into the ranks of the civilian sector.

One has to remember that the salute is also a show of respect.  It is not just something that is required of enlisted to officer or junior officer to senior.  It is also common of soldiers and sailors to deliberately not salute a superior officer as a show of disrespect due to lack of leadership or some other reason.  Some would rather face the penalties of losing liberty or off base priviledges than to salute someone they felt was undeserving. 

Now if we say it is ok for vets to salute then we also go down the slope of allowing police officers/firemen/and other civil service folks the same.  Then we keep adding to the list...and sooner rather than later we have watered down what the salute is for.

I can understand your being mixed on this one. I personally see it as saluting those that the flag stands for, those that have given their lives in many different ways for the life and liberty of the people of this nation. It is an earned priviledge to be able to render a salute. It is earned by those others that served that flag in the Military.

Personally I don't see a problem with Police officers or firemen saluting either. The USC title 4 chapter 1 sect 9 does indicate that those in "uniform" should render a salute. It does not stipulate Military uniform. Brother Tom would be the expert on this but I do believe that it is customary for police officer in uniform to do so. It is also of a nature for Boy Scouts in uniform to do so.

To get to my point, if a person renders a salute or places their hand over their heart they are still rendering respect to those that have served under that flag. I would rather see that than to see those that turn their backs to the flag and walk off as if it meant nothing at all or to stomp on it or burn it.

Agreed.  Just one of those things :D

Did you know that according to that same code that foreign nationals are supposed to stand up with their arms down at their sides when the flag is presented? That is something that we see very little of for sure.

I still today put my hand over my heart, as the Grand Ole' Flag passes by in a parade.  I also put my hand over my heart, for the Pledge of Allegiance.

huh?   To ALLOW someone to salute the flag? I didn't know it was illegal!   I just assumed anyone who loves this country would have the right to salute the flag. It is like a natural instint

There are many people that do not know the USC title 4 chapter 1 or that it even exists. It just isn't taught in public schools and it really hasn't been enforced (except for ROTC students). A lot of the reasons it hasn't been enforced is because of all the "freedom of speech" pc lawsuits that liberal judges have ruled against the code on, interpreting it their own way.

Most older people though have known that the proper way to respect the flag for non-uniform people is to place their hand over their heart. I was surprised to find out how many kids in my neighborhood don't know anything about this either.

Oh, ok... now I understand ( was wearing my "blonde moment wig").   It was a confussion  ( or law?) for the Vets/ nonuniformed Military persons on which way was proper for them to Honor the flag.

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