August 19, 2007: The U.S. Congress just passed a
law (S.1877) allowing military veterans to render a military salute to the
flag, while not in uniform. In the past, it had been customary for only
military personnel in uniform to use the military salute when recognizing the
flag. Civilians, and military personnel (including veterans) used the civilian
"salute" of placing ones hand over ones heart. But this custom had never been
recognized by law, and many veterans would render a military salute to the
flag. This wasn't illegal, but it wasn't quite legal, either. Not a big deal
for most, but for many veterans, and active duty military personnel wearing
civilian clothes, it is a big deal. Flags were originally invented mainly as
military symbols, an early form of battlefield communication. It still
sometimes serves that purpose. It's still something soldiers die for, or even
under. Always being able to render the military salute to the flag thus means
something for those who have served to defend it with their lives.
