thedrifter
12-19-08, 02:15 PM
President Bush gives veterans, service members right to render hand
salute when out of uniform
By Yvonne Carlock
Press Officer
The Quantico Sentry
Dec. 11, 2008
The Defense Authorization Act of 2009, signed by President Bush in
October, contained a provision that gave veterans and active-duty
service members not in uniform the right to salute during the playing of
the national anthem.
Previous legislation authorized saluting when not in uniform during the
raising, lowering and passing of the flag.
I’ve spent a great deal of time — more than I’d care to publicly admit —
looking for details like whether or not the veteran or military member
should be covered or uncovered. Whether the event is indoors.
This is important to me because I still feel incredibly stupid when I
think back to the day I saluted my series commander at the pool during
recruit training. The stupid part was I was in PT gear, inside the
facility at the time. By contrast, I remember the pride I felt years
later when I had the opportunity to be the first to salute a brand new
warrant officer.
Saluting isn’t just one of those courtesies or customs to which service
members adhere. Saluting is true sign of respect and honor. Why do you
think the drill instructors fly into a rage when recruits have nasty
salutes or salute at inappropriate times?
Saluting regulations are different for the various services. Marines in
uniform don’t salute indoors unless they are under cover, which usually
means they are armed or on duty. Marines in uniform don’t salute uncovered.
As a veteran, I appreciate having the option to render a hand salute.
But as a former Marine, I’m certain that I’ll follow the regulations and
customs that the Corps instilled in me.
UNCLASSIFIED//
ALMAR 052/08
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC CMC//
SUBJ/CUSTOMS AND TRADITIONS//
REF/A/DESC:DOC/CMC WASHINGTON DC/05MAY2003// AMPN/REF A IS MCO P5060.20,
MARINE CORPS DRILL AND CEREMONIES MANUAL.
//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1. THIS ALMAR REINFORCES THE IMPORTANCE OF OUR CUSTOMS AND
TRADITIONS AND AMPLIFIES THE PROVISIONS OF THE REFERENCE FOR RENDERING
SALUTES AND HONORS TO THE NATIONAL FLAG; THE PROPER CONDUCT OF THE MARINE
CORPS BIRTHDAY CAKE CUTTING CEREMONY; AND THE PLAYING OF THE MARINES' HYMN.
2. CUSTOMS AND TRADITIONS PROVIDE A LINK TO THE PAST; THEY BOND MARINES WHO
HAVE GONE BEFORE WITH MARINES WHO WILL CARRY THE TORCH THROUGH THE FUTURE.
ANY LOSS OF TRADITION OR IMPROPER OBSERVATION OF CUSTOM BLURS OUR IDENTITY
AND WEAKENS US AS AN INSTITUTION.
THROUGH THE FAITHFUL ADHERENCE BY COMMANDERS AND EACH INDIVIDUAL MARINE, WE
PRESERVE OUR IDENTITY AND REPUTATION AS A UNIQUE AND ELITE FIGHTING
ORGANIZATION.
3. SALUTING. A RECENT CHANGE TO THE LAW HAS AUTHORIZED ACTIVE DUTY AND
RETIRED SERVICEMEMBERS TO SALUTE THE NATIONAL COLORS, WHETHER COVERED OR
UNCOVERED, INDOORS OR OUT. BY CUSTOM AND TRADITION, MARINES DO NOT RENDER
THE HAND SALUTE WHEN OUT OF UNIFORM OR WHEN UNCOVERED. LET THERE BE NO
CONFUSION; THAT HAS NOT CHANGED. DURING THE PLAYING OF THE NATIONAL ANTHEM,
OR THE RAISING, LOWERING, OR PASSING OF THE NATIONAL FLAG, MARINES WILL
CONTINUE TO FOLLOW NAVAL TRADITIONS AND THE POLICY / PROCEDURES CONTAINED IN
REFERENCE (A).
SPECIFICALLY, MARINES NOT IN UNIFORM WILL FACE THE FLAG, STAND AT ATTENTION,
AND PLACE THE RIGHT HAND OVER THE HEART. IF COVERED, MARINES NOT IN UNIFORM
WILL REMOVE THEIR HEADGEAR WITH THE RIGHT HAND AND PLACE THEIR RIGHT HAND
OVER THEIR HEART. WHEN THE FLAG IS NOT PRESENT, MARINES WILL ACT IN THE
SAME MANNER WHILE FACING IN THE DIRECTION OF THE MUSIC. IN CASES SUCH AS
INDOOR CEREMONIES, WHEN MARINES ARE IN UNIFORM AND UNCOVERED, THEY WILL FACE
THE FLAG, OR THE DIRECTION OF THE MUSIC WHEN THE FLAG IS NOT PRESENT, AND
STAND AT ATTENTION.
4. THE MARINE CORPS BIRTHDAY CAKE CUTTING CEREMONY. THE MARINE CORPS
BIRTHDAY CAKE CUTTING CEREMONY IS ONE OF OUR TIME-HONORED TRADITIONS IN
GARRISON, IN THE FIELD, AND IN COMBAT. ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT ELEMENTS
OF THE CEREMONY IS THE TRADITIONAL RECOGNITION OF THE OLDEST AND YOUNGEST
MARINES PRESENT. TO CLARIFY THE LANGUAGE IN REFERENCE (A), THE COMMANDER
CUTS THE CAKE AND HANDS THE FIRST PIECE TO THE GUEST OF HONOR. THEN THE
COMMANDER HANDS THE SECOND PIECE OF CAKE TO THE OLDEST MARINE PRESENT AS A
SIGN OF HONOR AND RESPECT TO EXPERIENCE AND SENIORITY. AFTER TAKING A BITE,
THE OLDEST MARINE PASSES THE SECOND PIECE OF CAKE, AND A CLEAN FORK,
DIRECTLY TO THE YOUNGEST MARINE PRESENT; THIS ACTION SYMBOLIZES THE PASSING
OF WISDOM, KNOWLEDGE, AND EXPERIENCE, AS WELL AS TRUST AND CONFIDENCE IN
THOSE WHO WILL CONTINUE TO CARRY ON OUR MARINE CORPS TRADITIONS.
5. PLAYING OF THE MARINES' HYMN. THE MARINES' HYMN IS THE OFFICIAL HYMN OF
THE MARINE CORPS. IT IS THE SONG OF PRAISE TO OUR INSTITUTION AND THE
LYRICS ARE A DIRECT TRIBUTE TO OUR WARFIGHTING CULTURE. BY CUSTOM AND
TRADITION, THE MARINES' HYMN IS THE LAST SONG PLAYED AT CEREMONIES AND
GATHERINGS OF MARINES. ALTHOUGH THE REFERENCE ALLOWS FOR THE PLAYING OF
SPECIAL MUSIC REQUESTS BEFORE THE MARINES' HYMN, SUCH AS "ANCHOR'S AWEIGH,"
THIS IS BY EXCEPTION AND AT THE DISCRETION OF THE LOCAL COMMANDER.
6. ONE OF OUR HALLMARKS AS MARINES IS THAT WE ARE AS GOOD ON PARADE AS WE
ARE IN THE ATTACK. OUR SHARP APPEARANCE - IN AND OUT OF UNIFORM - AND OUR
SUCCESS IN BATTLE ARE TWO IMPORTANT PARTS OF OUR IDENTITY. WE TAKE PRIDE IN
OUR TRADITIONS, AND THEIR UNIFORM APPLICATION, WHEREVER MARINES ARE
ASSIGNED.
7. SEMPER FIDELIS, JAMES T. CONWAY, GENERAL , U.S. MARINE CORPS, COMMANDANT
OF THE MARINE CORPS.//
Ellie
salute when out of uniform
By Yvonne Carlock
Press Officer
The Quantico Sentry
Dec. 11, 2008
The Defense Authorization Act of 2009, signed by President Bush in
October, contained a provision that gave veterans and active-duty
service members not in uniform the right to salute during the playing of
the national anthem.
Previous legislation authorized saluting when not in uniform during the
raising, lowering and passing of the flag.
I’ve spent a great deal of time — more than I’d care to publicly admit —
looking for details like whether or not the veteran or military member
should be covered or uncovered. Whether the event is indoors.
This is important to me because I still feel incredibly stupid when I
think back to the day I saluted my series commander at the pool during
recruit training. The stupid part was I was in PT gear, inside the
facility at the time. By contrast, I remember the pride I felt years
later when I had the opportunity to be the first to salute a brand new
warrant officer.
Saluting isn’t just one of those courtesies or customs to which service
members adhere. Saluting is true sign of respect and honor. Why do you
think the drill instructors fly into a rage when recruits have nasty
salutes or salute at inappropriate times?
Saluting regulations are different for the various services. Marines in
uniform don’t salute indoors unless they are under cover, which usually
means they are armed or on duty. Marines in uniform don’t salute uncovered.
As a veteran, I appreciate having the option to render a hand salute.
But as a former Marine, I’m certain that I’ll follow the regulations and
customs that the Corps instilled in me.
UNCLASSIFIED//
ALMAR 052/08
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC CMC//
SUBJ/CUSTOMS AND TRADITIONS//
REF/A/DESC:DOC/CMC WASHINGTON DC/05MAY2003// AMPN/REF A IS MCO P5060.20,
MARINE CORPS DRILL AND CEREMONIES MANUAL.
//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1. THIS ALMAR REINFORCES THE IMPORTANCE OF OUR CUSTOMS AND
TRADITIONS AND AMPLIFIES THE PROVISIONS OF THE REFERENCE FOR RENDERING
SALUTES AND HONORS TO THE NATIONAL FLAG; THE PROPER CONDUCT OF THE MARINE
CORPS BIRTHDAY CAKE CUTTING CEREMONY; AND THE PLAYING OF THE MARINES' HYMN.
2. CUSTOMS AND TRADITIONS PROVIDE A LINK TO THE PAST; THEY BOND MARINES WHO
HAVE GONE BEFORE WITH MARINES WHO WILL CARRY THE TORCH THROUGH THE FUTURE.
ANY LOSS OF TRADITION OR IMPROPER OBSERVATION OF CUSTOM BLURS OUR IDENTITY
AND WEAKENS US AS AN INSTITUTION.
THROUGH THE FAITHFUL ADHERENCE BY COMMANDERS AND EACH INDIVIDUAL MARINE, WE
PRESERVE OUR IDENTITY AND REPUTATION AS A UNIQUE AND ELITE FIGHTING
ORGANIZATION.
3. SALUTING. A RECENT CHANGE TO THE LAW HAS AUTHORIZED ACTIVE DUTY AND
RETIRED SERVICEMEMBERS TO SALUTE THE NATIONAL COLORS, WHETHER COVERED OR
UNCOVERED, INDOORS OR OUT. BY CUSTOM AND TRADITION, MARINES DO NOT RENDER
THE HAND SALUTE WHEN OUT OF UNIFORM OR WHEN UNCOVERED. LET THERE BE NO
CONFUSION; THAT HAS NOT CHANGED. DURING THE PLAYING OF THE NATIONAL ANTHEM,
OR THE RAISING, LOWERING, OR PASSING OF THE NATIONAL FLAG, MARINES WILL
CONTINUE TO FOLLOW NAVAL TRADITIONS AND THE POLICY / PROCEDURES CONTAINED IN
REFERENCE (A).
SPECIFICALLY, MARINES NOT IN UNIFORM WILL FACE THE FLAG, STAND AT ATTENTION,
AND PLACE THE RIGHT HAND OVER THE HEART. IF COVERED, MARINES NOT IN UNIFORM
WILL REMOVE THEIR HEADGEAR WITH THE RIGHT HAND AND PLACE THEIR RIGHT HAND
OVER THEIR HEART. WHEN THE FLAG IS NOT PRESENT, MARINES WILL ACT IN THE
SAME MANNER WHILE FACING IN THE DIRECTION OF THE MUSIC. IN CASES SUCH AS
INDOOR CEREMONIES, WHEN MARINES ARE IN UNIFORM AND UNCOVERED, THEY WILL FACE
THE FLAG, OR THE DIRECTION OF THE MUSIC WHEN THE FLAG IS NOT PRESENT, AND
STAND AT ATTENTION.
4. THE MARINE CORPS BIRTHDAY CAKE CUTTING CEREMONY. THE MARINE CORPS
BIRTHDAY CAKE CUTTING CEREMONY IS ONE OF OUR TIME-HONORED TRADITIONS IN
GARRISON, IN THE FIELD, AND IN COMBAT. ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT ELEMENTS
OF THE CEREMONY IS THE TRADITIONAL RECOGNITION OF THE OLDEST AND YOUNGEST
MARINES PRESENT. TO CLARIFY THE LANGUAGE IN REFERENCE (A), THE COMMANDER
CUTS THE CAKE AND HANDS THE FIRST PIECE TO THE GUEST OF HONOR. THEN THE
COMMANDER HANDS THE SECOND PIECE OF CAKE TO THE OLDEST MARINE PRESENT AS A
SIGN OF HONOR AND RESPECT TO EXPERIENCE AND SENIORITY. AFTER TAKING A BITE,
THE OLDEST MARINE PASSES THE SECOND PIECE OF CAKE, AND A CLEAN FORK,
DIRECTLY TO THE YOUNGEST MARINE PRESENT; THIS ACTION SYMBOLIZES THE PASSING
OF WISDOM, KNOWLEDGE, AND EXPERIENCE, AS WELL AS TRUST AND CONFIDENCE IN
THOSE WHO WILL CONTINUE TO CARRY ON OUR MARINE CORPS TRADITIONS.
5. PLAYING OF THE MARINES' HYMN. THE MARINES' HYMN IS THE OFFICIAL HYMN OF
THE MARINE CORPS. IT IS THE SONG OF PRAISE TO OUR INSTITUTION AND THE
LYRICS ARE A DIRECT TRIBUTE TO OUR WARFIGHTING CULTURE. BY CUSTOM AND
TRADITION, THE MARINES' HYMN IS THE LAST SONG PLAYED AT CEREMONIES AND
GATHERINGS OF MARINES. ALTHOUGH THE REFERENCE ALLOWS FOR THE PLAYING OF
SPECIAL MUSIC REQUESTS BEFORE THE MARINES' HYMN, SUCH AS "ANCHOR'S AWEIGH,"
THIS IS BY EXCEPTION AND AT THE DISCRETION OF THE LOCAL COMMANDER.
6. ONE OF OUR HALLMARKS AS MARINES IS THAT WE ARE AS GOOD ON PARADE AS WE
ARE IN THE ATTACK. OUR SHARP APPEARANCE - IN AND OUT OF UNIFORM - AND OUR
SUCCESS IN BATTLE ARE TWO IMPORTANT PARTS OF OUR IDENTITY. WE TAKE PRIDE IN
OUR TRADITIONS, AND THEIR UNIFORM APPLICATION, WHEREVER MARINES ARE
ASSIGNED.
7. SEMPER FIDELIS, JAMES T. CONWAY, GENERAL , U.S. MARINE CORPS, COMMANDANT
OF THE MARINE CORPS.//
Ellie