Saluting during the Anthem

[Anonymous]

I just ran across the old controversy about Obama not saluting during the National Anthem. I have had an ongoing debate with DW over whether to salute. I could swear that is school we only saluted during the Pledge, not the Anthem. I can understand a hand on the heart as you pledge your allegiance, but I don't see the sense of it when you are asking a question about whether the flag is still flying.

The law does indicate that one should salute, and it was signed before I was born, so either my memory is wrong about what I was taught (which is certainly possible) or my teachers did not know the law. It seems to me that when I look around during the playing of the Anthem, there is a fairly even split of those who do and don't salute. Do all of you salute?

[jsteele]

Here is the relevant legal code:

Title 36 United States Code: § 301. National Anthem.

(a) Designation. — The composition consisting of the words and music known as the Star-Spangled Banner is the national anthem.

(b) Conduct During Playing. — During a rendition of the national anthem —

(1) when the flag is displayed —

(A) all present except those in uniform should stand at attention facing the flag with the right hand over the heart;

(B) men not in uniform should remove their headdress with their right hand and hold the headdress at the left shoulder, the hand being over the heart; and

(C) individuals in uniform should give the military salute at the first note of the anthem and maintain that position until the last note.

(2) When the flag is not displayed, all present should face toward the music and act in the same manner they would if the flag were displayed.

This clearly states that those not in uniform should place their hands over their heart. In practice, I don't recall ever being instructed to do that and I've never done it.

More info. available here:

http://www.senate.gov/reference/resources/pdf/RL30243.pdf

[Anonymous]

So he isn't in uniform, but he is the Commander in Chief - seems he could go either way just fine. I could easily find more important things to complain about with Obama - this is a non-starter

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So he isn't in uniform, but he is the Commander in Chief - seems he could go either way just fine. I could easily find more important things to complain about with Obama - this is a non-starter

to answer the original question, NO, I do not salute

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I just ran across the old controversy about Obama not saluting during the National Anthem. I have had an ongoing debate with DW over whether to salute. I could swear that is school we only saluted during the Pledge, not the Anthem. I can understand a hand on the heart as you pledge your allegiance, but I don't see the sense of it when you are asking a question about whether the flag is still flying.

The law does indicate that one should salute, and it was signed before I was born, so either my memory is wrong about what I was taught (which is certainly possible) or my teachers did not know the law. It seems to me that when I look around during the playing of the Anthem, there is a fairly even split of those who do and don't salute. Do all of you salute?

Civilians don't salute at all, even for the pledge. You have to be military for that.

[Anonymous]

military stand at attention with their hands by their sides; civilians place hand over heart. The President is not military--he is the civilian Commander in Chief.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:military stand at attention with their hands by their sides; civilians place hand over heart. The President is not military--he is the civilian Commander in Chief.

Sort of--if you're wearing a cover (hat), usually outdoors, you salute. Army (I'm a Navy Officer) has slightly different rules, sometimes they salute uncovered. Maybe an Army Officer can help out here.

[Anonymous]

They definitely do at the Olympics. Very patriotic.

[Anonymous]

former Army officer here...got out in 2002 so my memory has faded some, but as I recall, we did salute

[Anonymous]

Obama is not nor ever was a member of the military. As I recall, you salute if you were ever a member of the armed forces. Otherwise, the hand goes over the heart.

Maybe boy scouts salute?

[Anonymous]

I thought you stand at attention as a (uniformed) member of the armed forces, otherwise hand over heart.

[Anonymous]

"All persons present except those in uniform should face the flag and stand at attention with the right hand over the heart. Those present in uniform should render the military salute. When not in uniform, men should remove their headdress (hat) with their right hand and hold it at the left shoulder, the hand being over the heart. Aliens should stand at attention."

www.homeofheroes.com

sad that we have to look this up, no?

[Anonymous]

http://www.snopes.com/politics/obama/anthem.asp

[Anonymous]

Check the audience:

[Anonymous]

I would think that if I, a civilian, saluted during the national anthem it would be kind of an insult to members of the military.