# How to salute civilians? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [November 11, 2024, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-salute-civilians/1010089 "2024-11-11T18:09:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2024, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-salute-civilians/1010089/1 "2024-11-11T18:09:11Z")
I was watching **The Repair Shop** the other day and an item was being restored that belonged to a gentleman who was a beloved doctor. When he died, the funeral procession went right past the hospital and the entire staff lined the sidewalk to pay their respects. My question: is there some “salute” civilians can make in an instance like this? ---
**Author:** ![dolphinboy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dolphinboy/32/330_2.png) [@dolphinboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dolphinboy)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2024, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-salute-civilians/1010089/2 "2024-11-11T18:13:32Z")
Standing and putting your hand over your heart seems like a heartfelt way to salute a civilian. That’s also the way we salute our flag and what we do when we hear the national anthem, which is also non-military. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2024, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-salute-civilians/1010089/3 "2024-11-11T18:19:18Z")
I thought about that but for some reason, believed it to be a military practice. You, of course, are correct; saluting the flag is not military and I don’t know why I thought that. Thanks for setting me straight. ETA: The more I think about it, the more I like it! ---
**Author:** ![VOW](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/vow/32/3043_2.png) [@VOW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VOW)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2024, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-salute-civilians/1010089/4 "2024-11-11T19:50:08Z")
Hand over the heart is a very old and honored tradition for a civilian to honor our flag when it passes as in a parade or procession, or when the flag is folded and presented to the next of kin at a funeral. Active, retired, and former military, whether in uniform or civilian clothes, salute. Other uniformed personnel, such as police, fire, EMT, and scouts may salute. ~VOW ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2024, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-salute-civilians/1010089/5 "2024-11-11T22:24:28Z")
Right hand over heart, correct? ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2024, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-salute-civilians/1010089/6 "2024-11-11T23:08:48Z")
I’ve found that simply bowing your head does the job. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2024, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-salute-civilians/1010089/7 "2024-11-11T23:16:09Z")
Superb! Many thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2024, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-salute-civilians/1010089/8 "2024-11-20T17:07:03Z")
> [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](#): > > Right hand over heart, correct? Unless you have situs inversus. ---
**Author:** ![PatrickLondon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/patricklondon/32/4422_2.png) [@PatrickLondon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatrickLondon)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2024, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-salute-civilians/1010089/9 "2024-11-20T18:33:03Z")
> [@dolphinboy](#): > > Standing and putting your hand over your heart seems like a heartfelt way to salute a civilian. That’s also the way we salute our flag and what we do when we hear the national anthem, which is also non-military. That’s the American way. Over here, just standing up straight is more the thing, with bowed head for particularly solemn occasions.