I Saluted the American Flag Yesterday - WOW!

[Richard Crowe]

I put my uniform away in 1989 after 32 years in the U.S. Navy.  Since that time, I have honored the American Flag by placing my right hand or my hat over my heart which was the correct way to show respect when a person was in civilian clothes.  

 

Yesterday at the start of a local Veterans Day  ceremony, the Master of Ceremonies shared some information that I did not know.  Military veterans as well as active duty military are now authorized to honor the flag by presenting the hand salute just like we did when we were in uniform. 

 

http://usmilitary.about.com/od/theorderlyroom/a/salutechange.htm

 

During the ceremony, I saluted the flag this way for the first time since I retired in March 1989 AND IT FELT DARNED GOOD!

 

Just thought I would share this with the other Vets on Doodlekisses in case they also did not know about this change in rules...

[Doris, Knox & Flash]

32 years??? Thank you, thank you, thank you!!

[Leslie and Halas]

Cool.  Thanks for your years of service.

[Rose Ann and Amante]

Thank you Richard for your service!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Thank you Richard, for the info and for your service! (And everything you do for homeless dogs, too!)

[GBK]

Thank you Richard for the many years of service!  I will pass this on to my Dad also, he is retired Navy as well.

[Jennifer,Chloe & Myla]

Thank you Richard, that must have felt like a good experience!

[Carol and Banjo]

Richard, Thank you for your many years of service.   As a proud American, I wish we saw more obvious demonstrations/ of national pride.....instead we're  drenched with news of the Kadashians and the like.

[Anna and Achilles]

My Dad is a WWll Vet, so respecting the flag is very ingrained in me as well. I teach my kindergarten kids every single day all the things my Dad taught us growing up. Thank you so much for all the service you gave our country.

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

I so wish that the schools would teach the proper etiquette to students these days.  My DH is retired military (USAF) as well, and I worked for the Air Force for many years.  Several in Protocol, so proper etiquette is ingrained in me.  One of the Veteran's Day Programs that we attend is at our local High School.  The children never place their hands over their hearts during the program.  It also drives me crazy when at an outdoor event and the National Anthem is played and people don't stop what they are doing and face the flag.  I recently was standing at attention facing a flag while it was being played at a horse show and some lady came up to me and just started asking me questions about the doodles ... never once noticing the Anthem, that I was facing the flag at attention, or that I wasn't answering her questions. 

 

Wow, 32 years is a long time!  I'm sure it was strange being a civilian again after all that time!  DH just did 21.5.  Many thanks and Happy Belated Veterans Day!

 

[Deanna & Desi & Cori]

Thanks for your many years of service to our country.  My husband, although not a lifer, is ex-Navy (Vietnam Vet on the Turner Joy, then a CTM).