Salute at Ramp Ceremonies

[Dilligaf]

So I have read that as a veteran I can salute the flag as it is raised, lowered, or as it passes. I am currently working in Kandahar Afghanistan as a contractor. I attend as many Ramp Ceremonies (this is when they load the casket of a fallen warrior onto the airplane for his/her last ride home.) as I can. They are very moving, what I want to know is am I allowed to render the hand salute as the casket is carried by? The military command of present arms is given. Taps is playing and the casket is drapped with the flag. I am trying not to offend anyone at the ceremony, but I think it an honorable thing to do and salute as the casket passes. Anyway thank you for the site and the information.

Scott

[Peter Ansoff]

Hello, Dilligaf!

(It's funny -- when I was in the service, I knew a *lot* of folks who went by that name!) (-;

You're correct -- the flag code was recently changed to say that veterans not in uniform could use the military salute. There's a detailed discussion of it in this thread:

Veterans' Salute protocols

The changes specifically address saluting the flag, but it seems reasonable that they'd apply to the situation you're describing. I certainly don't think that anyone will object.

Thanks for joining us, and stay safe.

Peter Ansoff

[Dilligaf]

Thank you for the info. That is what I thought! Have a good day and i will keep my head down!


Dilligaf