HAPPY JULY 4TH! ~~ Military HAND-SALUTES Matter to Veterans, Too

Posted:  3 Jul 14


1.  PURPOSES OF THIS BULLETIN

1.1  It seems I'm always writing love letters to this nation.  What might I say here that I haven't said before?  In view of the big thing which happens tomorrow -- HAPPY BIRTHDAY, AMERICA -- today seems a mighty good day to offer another attempt.

1.2  I know!  I have it!!  I would like to use this opportunity to point out and celebrate another privilege which this nation affords its military veterans -- who no longer happen to be on active service -- namely, the right to render military-style salutes on patriotic occasions -- for the rest of their lives.  This wasn't always the case.  And, I would like to try to explain, at least in part, why I think this matters to us.  I do that in Section Three, below.

1.3  But first, I can't resist reflecting on a bit of the meaning of the moment.

1.4.  Finally, in Section 4, I offer, for your convenience, a Google-search link-list, examining some of the ways the entire land is going about celebrating this special weekend.   As usual, I lament that I can't yet save as many keystrokes for those neighbors outside my home area.  I dream of the day when I can -- and am working hard toward that happy end.


2.  THE MEANING OF THE MOMENT -- A QUICK REVIEW

2.1  Let me start by noting what seems to be a sad, but irrefutable truth.  That the nation's great business is often written in the annals, using the "red ink" of oceans of patriot blood -- for that's just the way the world is -- or at least always has been -- up until now -- demanding from the generations, payments not to be denied.  For example, tomorrow marks both:

• The 239th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence -- the nation's "birth certificate," made real by A SEA of patriot blood during the glorious American Revolutionary War.  
• It's also the 151st anniversary of national victory ("four score and seven" years later) in the two greatest, most violent of great Civil War campaigns -- Gettysburg and Vicksburg (an amazing -- some might even say, providential -- coincidence for them to both burst forth -- at the very same time -- at opposite ends of a country which was vast, even back then -- and on the national birthday, to boot) -- both glorious battles, instrumental in saving the Constitution, avoiding a new global "dark age," and permitting a unified nation to continue its existence beyond its early adolescence -- a triumph made real, this time, by an, thus far, UNSURPASSED OCEAN of patriot blood and life-force. [True to form, civil wars tend to be the bloodiest of such violent enterprises] 
• Along these lines, you might wish to consider my recent bulletin, entitled "A BRAND NEW DARK AGE (#6) == IF the United States Had LOST Her Civil War
• And, so it goes (thus far). Human beings spilling-out their very life-force to change their world for the better -- for, alas, sometimes nothing less will do.

2.2  Incidently, here is an interesting glimpse back into a long history of significant July 4th's, entitled "Historical Events on the 4th of July.  For example -- in 1944, during World War Two -- 1,100 US guns fired a 4th of July salute at German lines in Normandy -- it's hard to imagine such a violent war-storm. [The Union armies were always doing the very same noisy, annoying thing to the Confederate enemy's July 4th's -- and were especially much heavier and even more enthusiastic annoyances -- after each significant victory, as the war entered its concluding phase.]

3.  THE RIGHT TO RENDER MILITARY SALUTES

Not long ago, I entered a discussion with other viewers of a YouTube video, entitled: "New Saluting Law for Veterans."  I am re-printing my comments, below, for whatever they may be worth to you.

3.1  ABOUT THE VIDEO AND THE "NEW" LAW

The video announced that the National Defense Authorization Act of 2008 contained an amendment to allow un-uniformed service members, military retirees, and veterans to render a hand salute during the hoisting, lowering, or passing of the U.S. flag.  A later amendment further authorized hand-salutes during the national anthem by veterans and out-of-uniform military personnel. This was included in the Defense Authorization Act of 2009, which President Bush signed on Oct. 14, 2008.

3.2  IF YOU WISH TO LOOK MORE DEEPLY INTO THE FLAG CODE

For our general edification, here is a typically fine Wikipedia discussion of the entire US Flag Code. It is well worth a look, for it deepens, even further, our understanding and, hence, our appreciation, affection, and respect for the great good fortune which "the Star-Spangled Banner" represents for this nation and world.

The subject matter also adds to our confidence that we are carefully following and preserving procedures enshrined in the customs, traditions, and the history of the nation -- perpetuating such knowledge and patriotic feeling forward, for ALL the generations to also cherish.

Here is also the Congressional Research Service's report to Congress, "The United States Flag: Federal Law Relating to Display and Associated Questions, that can further enrich our understanding.

3.3  MY YOUTUBE COMMENTARY

1.  You raise an interesting question, Ron Livingston:  "Why does there need to be a law for this?"   Thank you for seeking to understand and causing me to reach inside for an answer.  I think the many other answers, here, greatly deepen and expand the insights and stimulate much thought (Thanks to all who have invested and shared their thoughts, in good will).

-- I might add [to the other comments] that if one wishes to do what their countrymen consider to be proper, they comply with the law.   One, among several reasons might be that, if we didn't, our fellow informed citizens would know and we would be diminished in their eyes -- for salutes are public expressions of private sentiments -- and their manner of rendering has been lawfully prescribed. (Embarrassment is all the penalty needed for transgressing such a self-enforcing law)  Now, with the new law, you have the option which removes a personal burden and awkward choice for you.  And, it took a new law to give it to you.

-- I, for one, am grateful for the change.  I didn't stop loving my Coast Guard and what it taught me, merely because I left its active ranks. Nor my country and what it teaches me, merely because I'm no longer on active duty.  Both factors are now burned deeply into my very being.

-- The point is, I stepped forward and answered the particular call I heard (everyone hears different callings).  And, I discovered the truth that "Once a Coastie, always a Coastie" (and this holds true for most of my fellow military brethren and sistren --- regardless of branch).  By saluting, in military style, (the way our beloved services carefully taught us) it says that WE STILL BELONG [the roles we played, still matter].  In my heart, I always feel this -- and the new law says that the nation truly agrees -- after giving it the thought that it deserves.

-- This also makes it easier for vets to find other vets.  I can't tell you how many new friends I make, vet and non-vet, by making myself known to them -- and they to me.  But, I assure you, it's a wonderful advantage to not be merely "ships, passing in the night" -- unknown and unknowable.

2.  To your other point: "It's a waste of taxpayer resources:"  It may seem a meaningless waste to you, because it is apparently unimportant to you -- at present.  But it does matter to millions of others.  It responds to thousands of appeals for a change.  Any waste is minimal, especially as compared to the level of happy contentment it raises.  Government is, once again, doing its proper function.

3.  As to the rest of your statement: "...and is ultimately meaningless as it revolves around symbolism, with no material benefit:"

-- I must beg to differ.  Symbolism, IN NO WAY, means a thing is ultimately meaningless.   Symbolism is what unites us and makes us stronger than we could ever be as a mere sum-total of individuals.  Symbolism conveys meaning and thus, cannot be meaningless -- else it wouldn't be a symbol, but something else.

--  "Material benefits" are not the ONLY benefits to be found and cherished in this life.  In fact, symbolism is an essential feature of social existence. It helps us coordinate and cooperate with one another for common purposes -- far better than any alternative (if there even is an alternative).  Hence, symbols tend to be practical and efficient, even indispensable, by nature.

-- A symbol may not always be material, but it almost always has effects on the material world -- it's just that the effects are not always easy to measure -- rather, they often have to be taken as reflections of justified beliefs based on reasoned purposes.

-- Consider the definition of a "symbol" -- "a thing that represents or stands for something else."  We humans rely on symbols to do much of our heavy lifting -- to establish our common understandings -- to remember things worth remembering -- and more.  For example, words and images are symbols that enable us to communicate (exchange ideas from one brain to another). Where would we be without those?  Without symbols, we'd never be able to do more than the simplest of things, over very brief time-spans.

4.  Russell Lewis. It is quite unlikely that anyone would interfere with your salutation decisions.  Civilian salutes haven't been rendered incorrect by the law -- for anyone.  (And, the decision to salute or not salute is a personal decision -- though one choice might generate strong reactions.)  The manner of saluting, military- or civilian-style, is an either-or proposition for veterans.  But, that's not the point, one way or the other.  Laws are not always to "make" you do a thing, under some sort of penalty.  They also tell you what is considered correct -- which is helpful to know, if correctness matters to you.  They allow you to do things, in comfortable assurance, without risk of error, embarrassment, or unintended transgression -- when you'd much rather be thinking about the symbolism of the moment.

I HOPE MY CLUMSY ATTEMPT AT AN EXPLANATION will prove helpful in your understanding what you are seeking to understand.  Thank you, both, for stimulating me to think about your honest questions.

--- END OF COMMENTARY (at least I think and hope that's all a fair description of reality)

4.  GOOGLE SEARCHES FOR 4TH OF JULY COMMEMORATIVE EVENTS THROUGHOUT THE LAND

National 4th of July Events
4th of July Events in California
4th of July Events in the San Francisco Bay Area
4th of July Events in Contra Costa County
4th of July Events in the Pittsburg, CA Area

HERE'S TO ANOTHER GRAND CELEBRATION OF THIS LIFE!

David Nelson

All Original Content © 2014, The MENTOR Enterprises / ELMS, All Rights Reserved -- BUT, I hereby waive those rights, to this extent: You may freely copy and pass this along, if you think it will do some good -- as long as it's free of charge, unchanged, and you include this statement. When you can, I'd be grateful to learn how you might have found this to be useful.

OOPS AND DRAT!  I did it again.  I lost all the Facebook "like" signals, below,  when I tried making some edits from my smart phone.  But, sincere thanks to those who gave me feedback.