"You don't salute the person, you salute the rank": Do you believe in this age old saying?

Yes

Of course you believe it! Why would you short change a tradition?

As said below true for a lot as one does npt even know the other.

However, there are a few that I saluted out of respect also.

All I can say is I've never met a Marine that didn't render a salute despite me being in an Army Officer. It's interesting that some the enforcers, or supposed to be for that matter, of the standard lean on social and emotional reasoning for why they bend the rules in military discipline. But that puts a Servicemember in a position where there is no deference of your years in service.

I always saluted the rank, just as we are taught. Some times I didn't respect the person, sometimes I didn’t even know the person. But I always respected the rank.

I rarely had any issues with officers. It was upper NCOs that would be golden or toxic.

Most of the officers I have had were good, a few were great, and two were so bad they should have resigned their commissions for the betterment of the force. Still, I saluted all of them regardless of if they were so awesome I'd let them date my sister or if they were so bad I wouldn't trust them to feed my goldfish over a long weekend.

There is something that man or woman did to deserve that rank.

Absolutely! As a PFC, I taught an ROTC cadet about this etiquette. I was driving for advanced camp one summer in the 1990s. My commander and my NCOIC told all of the drivers not to salute the cadets because they weren't commissioned yet. One cadet was insistent that I had to salute him. I refused. He threatened to report me to his cadre. I said, "This is my full-time job. I am here all day, every day, supporting my family. You are here for eight weeks, 'playing soldier.' Then, you will go back to school and tell your classmates what a great time you had at Ft. Riley this summer. I will still be here every day, doing my job. I won't salute you until the day you graduate and receive your commission. Then, I will salute your rank, not you!" He ran to his cadre (a Major) and told him what I had said. I followed him and properly saluted the Major. I fully expected to have to explain myself. Instead, he asked me if the cadet's version of the events was correct. I acknowledged that it was. He informed the cadet that I was right. The Major proceeded to smoke the cadet and made him apologize to me. I never had any trouble with that cadet again!

all I want to know is when did it change from saluting the rank to saluting the individual?? graduated basic in 1977. at that time you were taught you are saluting the rank.