Posted on Mar 24, 2016
Can soldiers in civilian clothes salute a fallen comrade memorial?
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I recently visited the Fallen Warriors Memorial on Cutten Road in Spring, TX. While I was there, I noticed a Veteran wearing a Vietnam hat and although I wanted to walk over to him and shake his hand, I decided to back off as he was paying his respects; however, prior to him leaving he stood in front of the memorial, came to attention and held a salute for a few seconds before bringing it down. So my question is actually coming from me as I've felt compelled to salute as well, but have refrained as I'm not sure what is correct.
Saluting
Customs and Courtesies
Fallen Soldiers
Memorial
Edited 8 y ago
Posted 8 y ago
Responses: 572
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If I as a civilian and veteran want to salute to show my utmost respect, I am going to do that. To hell with others. Do it.
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As a retiree, I salute anyone and anything I want to. While active, I would refrain from violating what I was taught in boot camp.
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A voluntary salute to me is the highest form of respect you can pay. Not because one is required but because you are honoring a fallen brother or sister. Great question and thank you for asking it.
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You have to keep one thing in mind. What is a salute? It is an action of respect. As it has been posted, "congress" has authorized it, but I honestly don't need congress to tell me when it is appropriate for me to salute, whether it be the ensign, a superior officer, or a peer who has distinguished him/herself. Respect is something that we seem to have lost in this nation and I firmly believe that we as veterans need to bring it back. As a previous commenter stated, Try to stop me from saluting a fallen comrade. I promise it won't be a pretty sight.
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Respect means so much to Veterans of that era, considering the animus they faced, coming back from Vietnam.
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SPC Lyle Montgomery
It's nice to hear someone, especially a child say "thank you for your service" instead of the hippies and war protesters calling us baby killers and spitting at us when we returned from NAM. I wasn't an officer so I don't expect a salute.
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This is more a Navy thing but I have been several times and will be going again in August. If you ever have the chance to visit the Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor I strongly recommend doing it. I have been to Arlington and the Tomb of the Unknowns and that's a very moving experience but it seems to me there are a lot of people that forget about The Arizona and what those guys went through on that Sunday morning. My point is. in uniform or not as you step on the Memorial it would be very hard not to render a salute
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SFC Everett Oliver
Walking out on the walk and rendering a Hand salute at the tomb of the unknowns is on my bucket list...
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PO1 (Join to see)
SFC Everett Oliver - Hear Hear,.....and also the Guards. I read somewhere that if they are selected for the guard, the first 6 months is some of the BEST training ever offered a proud Brother. No TV watching in the Rec Room, military bearing awareness 24/7'/365. uniform maintenance. I was temporary to McNair years ago, and was treated to a " hair-raising measured noise late one night. It was late, after Taps and I heard the clicking sound of steel on concrete and asked a local what the sound was. "That's the sound of the heel taps on the boots of the guard at the tomb of the unknown". Hair on the back of my neck raised again What a sound, that was as fitting as any never heard by our " long gone brothers"
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I’m a combat wounded disabled veteran and I’ll render a hand salute any time I damned well please.
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It is a show of respect. Quite honestly, I would hate to be the person that tries to correct me... I will probably "light them up" and regardless of the National Defense Authorization Act allowing salutes out of uniform, honestly, unless there is a public law that supersedes 1st Amendment, not sure you can stop non-military/civilians from doing it (even if done poorly or incorrectly).
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PO2 Tom Saldana
In the Navy we don’t salute when uncovered. A verbal salutation will do. Since I am a Viet Nam veteran I have been to a few funeral including two of my own brother. When I attend a funeral of a fallen soldier be it any of the five branches, I wear my Viet Nam cap so I can salute that fallen warrior: a brother in arms. That way I am in compliance.
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It's authorized for the flag and anthem. I don't think someone would bust your chops honoring fallen warriors. I have and will again, don't really care what is proper. They deserve the show of respect and love from their brothers and sisters. Carry on brother!
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Of course he can! It's a sign of respect no matter what one is wearing. Look at it this way, every time I drive on base, in civilian clothes since I'm retired, the guard at the gate salutes me after checking my ID and I return it, same concept.
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