# U.S. Veterans: Do you salute during the National Anthem? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 13, 2016, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-veterans-do-you-salute-during-the-national-anthem/759767 "2016-07-13T01:03:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![D\_Odds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/d_odds/32/2882_2.png) [@D\_Odds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Odds)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2016, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-veterans-do-you-salute-during-the-national-anthem/759767/21 "2016-07-13T15:47:11Z")
I wasn’t aware of the law (because I could not care less). That said, I won’t salute. I’m out, done, not going back. Also, I’m against non-military personnel saluting military personnel ‘as a sign of respect’. I just don’t get it. Want to show respect? Buy them a cup of coffee. Don’t salute a sergeant. I’m a veteran, but I’m also strongly anti-jingoist, and find the anthem and reciting the pledge of allegiance (and even worse, playing God Bless America at Yankee games) meaningless gestures. I showed which tribe I belonged to when I served. Want to show me you’re a patriot? Pay your taxes, take part in improving your community, vote (preferably based on the issues and the candidates track record rather than whether that candidate has a “R” or a “D” after their name). ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2016, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-veterans-do-you-salute-during-the-national-anthem/759767/22 "2016-07-13T15:58:26Z")
> [@D\_Odds](#): > > Want to show respect? Buy them a cup of coffee. I remember when I was a young private, going through an airport some guy walked up, said hello, and bought me a drink to say thank you for my service. Cool. Years later, I’ve done the same thing from time to time. In 2007 for the World Series I traveled to Denver to see Game 3. Out in left field a few Marines in Dress Blues were at the beer stand. I said hello, bought their beers, gave them a Semper Fi, and that was that. Pay it forward, and all that. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2016, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-veterans-do-you-salute-during-the-national-anthem/759767/23 "2016-07-13T16:07:31Z")
Retired veteran. I don’t salute, nor do I stand at attention. I just stand quietly until it’s over. The uber-patriotism of today annoys me no end. If you want to be patriotic, then serve your country, your state or your community instead of just running your mouth. ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2016, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-veterans-do-you-salute-during-the-national-anthem/759767/24 "2016-07-13T16:51:15Z")
> [@Bullitt](#): > > A couple of posters asked about foreign flags. I would definitely not salute that flag. I would only salute ours. I’m not even sure if I’d put my hand over my heart. I would stand at attention. > > What are the rules? Not just for veterans, but for all? From [what I found online](http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/policy/army/fm/7-21-13/chap4.htm) > [@](#): > > 4-13. All soldiers in uniform are required to salute when they meet and recognize persons entitled (by grade) to a salute except when it is inappropriate or impractical (in public conveyances such as planes and buses, in public places such as inside theaters, or when driving a vehicle). A salute is also rendered: > > When the United States National Anthem, “To the Color,” “Hail to the Chief,” or\*\* foreign national anthems are played\*\*. > To uncased National Color outdoors. > On ceremonial occasions such as changes of command or funerals. > At reveille and retreat ceremonies, during the raising or lowering of the flag. > During the sounding of honors. > When pledging allegiance to the US flag outdoors. > When turning over control of formations. > When rendering reports. > **To officers of friendly foreign countries**. Apparently serving officers and enlisted do have to salute foreign anthems. A post from a decade ago [by some guy called](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=6517738&postcount=3) **Bear Nenno** suggests that this is the case.😃 ---
**Author:** ![Cardigan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cardigan/32/187_2.png) [@Cardigan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardigan)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2016, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-veterans-do-you-salute-during-the-national-anthem/759767/25 "2016-07-13T17:47:05Z")
I stand at attention. No salutes or hand on heart. In fact was unaware of the 2008 amendment to the flag code ---
**Author:** ![jtur88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9c0ed/32.png) [@jtur88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtur88)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2016, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-veterans-do-you-salute-during-the-national-anthem/759767/26 "2016-07-13T19:25:45Z")
> [@Cardigan](#): > > I stand at attention. That’s all any American is ever expected to do, Every country has its own protocol (official or unofficial) with respect to its colors, but foreign nationals are not expected to observe them. Inside or outside the USA, no American would ever be considered disrespectful for simply standing at attention. If you feel comfortable doing more than that, that’s your business. If you’re in another country, and you see people around you doing anything else, it’s up to you whether you want to conform with them. The whole reason why you stand at attention, is so as to not offend honest and dignified people around you who have a right to openly and proudly honor the flag and anthem of their nation. You do it, too, not out of respect for their flag, but out of respect for the people who are perfectly within their rights to honor their flag according to their own customs, while you are a guest in their country. If you are attending an international competition, and they play the anthems of Cuba or North Korea or Somalia or Iran, you quietly stand at attention. Citizens of those countries have the same right that you have to proudly defend their country, and it is them that you show respect for. That’s not patriotism nor pageantry – it is just common decency. ---
**Author:** ![robby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robby/32/11048_2.png) [@robby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robby)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2016, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-veterans-do-you-salute-during-the-national-anthem/759767/27 "2016-07-13T19:48:29Z")
> [@Bear\_Nenno](#): > > You guys don’t salute when wearing PTs? Nope. That said, there actually is an official Navy [PT uniform](http://www.public.navy.mil/bupers-npc/support/uniforms/uniformregulations/chapter3/MaleOfficer/MO_Working/Pages/OM_PhysicalTraining.aspx), but I never had one, because it was never mandated as necessary by any of my commands. In any event, as indicated in the link, the ball cap is optional. As previously mentioned, Navy personnel don’t salute unless covered. ---
**Author:** ![rsat3acr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a3d4f5/32.png) [@rsat3acr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rsat3acr)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2016, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-veterans-do-you-salute-during-the-national-anthem/759767/28 "2016-07-13T22:43:30Z")
yes ever since they changed it. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2016, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-veterans-do-you-salute-during-the-national-anthem/759767/29 "2016-07-13T23:32:44Z")
I’m a vet, but no way am I rendering a salute when I’m not in uniform. And since I’m not a _retired_ vet, no uniforms for me; therefore, no salutes for me. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-veterans-do-you-salute-during-the-national-anthem/759767.md?page=1)