Code Change Allows Veterans in Civilian Clothes to Salute Flag

I know what I'll be doing the next time I see Old Glory in public: saluting.

From the Houston Chronicle:

A change in the U.S. flag code now allows both veterans and active servicemen and women to salute the flag without wearing dress attire. President Bush signed the code into law in January.

For those who prefer not to salute Old Glory, you still can stand at attention, remove your hat and place your right hand over your heart.

The Alamogordo Daily News has more on the code change:

Section 594 of the National Defense Authorization Act, which was signed into law as Public Law 110-181 on Jan. 28, allows veterans out of uniform to salute the flag.

Section 9 of Title 4, United States Code, was amended by striking "all persons present" and all that follows through the end of the section, and inserted 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 their 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 who are present should stand at attention. All such conduct toward the flag in a moving column should be rendered at the moment the flag passes."

After 10 years in the Air Force (with many of my day's duties including posting or retiring the flag), saluting the flag was a hard habit to break when I got out of the military.

Now I can go back to what I still feel is the best way for a veteran to show respect to our nation's flag.

Don't tell anybody, but years ago I taught my children to salute the flag when we post and retire it in front of our home. ("Present, Arms!" "Order, Arms!")