When to put your hand over your heart...?

[Peter Ansoff]

Until then, uniforms are limited to whatever the United States Code says.
Specifically, 10 USC, Subtitle A, Part II, Chapter 45, Sections v771 v772.

Once again, that is not what the US Code says. Section 772 (which I quoted in my earlier post) simply says that the Boy Scouts are permitted to wear their "prescribed" uniform, and that this is an exception to the general ban on civilians wearing uniforms that are similar to US military uniforms. That's all the Code says -- it doesn't say that the Boy Scout uniform is any more "official" than other uniforms worn by other scouting organizations, police forces, etc. Those organizations are not addressed in the code because they don't need to be -- their uniforms do not resemble US military uniforms to begin with.

The saluting provisions in Titles 4 and 36 of the code were clearly not intended to refer to the Boy Scouts. They specify the persons in uniform will render the "military salute," which Boy Scouts do not do. As far as I can see, there is nothing in the Code that privileges the Boy Scouts over the Girl Scouts or other organizations with respect to saluting.

Peter Ansoff

[shrubber]

Peter,

I believe you are incorrect again here.
Lets read a little more of the code:

TITLE 10 - ARMED FORCES
Subtitle A - General Military Law
PART II - PERSONNEL
CHAPTER 45 - THE UNIFORM

-HEAD-
Sec. 772. When wearing by persons not on active duty authorized

-STATUTE-
(a) A member of the Army National Guard or the Air National Guard
may wear the uniform prescribed for the Army National Guard or the
Air National Guard, as the case may be.
(b) A member of the Naval Militia may wear the uniform prescribed
for the Naval Militia.
(c) A retired officer of the Army, Navy, Air Force, or Marine
Corps may bear the title and wear the uniform of his retired grade.
(d) A person who is discharged honorably or under honorable
conditions from the Army, Navy, Air Force, or Marine Corps may wear
his uniform while going from the place of discharge to his home,
within three months after his discharge.
(e) A person not on active duty who served honorably in time of
war in the Army, Navy, Air Force, or Marine Corps may bear the
title, and, when authorized by regulations prescribed by the
President, wear the uniform, of the highest grade held by him
during that war.
(f) While portraying a member of the Army, Navy, Air Force, or
Marine Corps, an actor in a theatrical or motion-picture production
may wear the uniform of that armed force if the portrayal does not
tend to discredit that armed force.
(g) An officer or resident of a veterans' home administered by
the Department of Veterans Affairs may wear such uniform as the
Secretary of the military department concerned may prescribe.
(h) While attending a course of military instruction conducted by
the Army, Navy, Air Force, or Marine Corps, a civilian may wear the
uniform prescribed by that armed force if the wear of such uniform
is specifically authorized under regulations prescribed by the
Secretary of the military department concerned.
(i) Under such regulations as the Secretary of the Air Force may
prescribe, a citizen of a foreign country who graduates from an Air
Force school may wear the appropriate aviation badges of the Air
Force.
(j) A person in any of the following categories may wear the
uniform prescribed for that category:
(1) Members of the Boy Scouts of America.
(2) Members of any other organization designated by the
Secretary of a military department.

[shrubber]

And then let's take note of a few things.
First off, this section of the code ( other than the section descibing theatrical productions ) says nothing about civilians wearing uniforms as you mentioned.

Second, is it of note that BSA is the only organization not associated with the military mentioned by name in this code? Not the Girl Scouts, not the Indian Guides not the Daughters of the American Revolution?

I dare say a Secretary of any Military department has never authorized the Girl Scout uniform ( not dissing the Girl Scouts here, I happen to be a GSUSA Co Leader )

Perhaps the cause of confusion on your part is the prior use of official instead of authorized uniform.

Just as a retired serviceman, guardsman, and a VA resident is authorized to wear a uniform, so is BSA.

While it may not explicity say that BSA members in uniform should salute the flag, what we have here is a syllogism. If the BSA is an authorized uniform, and people in authorized uniforms are to salute the flag, then therefore......

On reference to your comment about the military salute, you are aware that not all members of the armed forces salute in the same manner? The Navy for instance has a salute that differs from the Army.

[Scout]

Excellent conversation. We all need to know this stuff. The best teacher is the best student. Question everything.

[Tim of Eustis]

Is it OK to place your hand on your heart while "God Bless America" is being played?

[Robin Hickman]

.
SURE !!!

There aren't any "rules" about that, so if it feels good, DO IT !!!


Robin Hickman
Eugene, Oregon, USA

[mcvtoo]

Any time the colors pass by

When the Colors are raised or lowered

whenever the Star Spangled Banner is played

when taps is played

not mandatory,but traditionally when God Bless America is played

Recent changes allow Veterans to render a hand salute in lieu of placing their hand over their heart. Whether they're covered or not.

Active duty personell in uniform render hand salute

Civilians should remove their cover (head wear) hold it in the fingers of their right hand with the palm of their right hand over their heart

When reciting the Pledge of Allegiance

HOOAH!

[mcvtoo]

Hi Violette and Allison,
I would like to clarify a few things for you. The saluting of the flag should only be done by military members in uniform, and when outdoors. Indoors, military members should stand at attention but not salute...the only time military members usually salute indoors is when reporting to a superior or while standing in formation indoors.
I know it can be confusing for folks who have no military experience. I'm just glad to see people care enough to ask the question!
Thanks...LyricB

Actually Changes to the code allow for Veterans to render a hand salute whether they are covered or not.

HOOAH!

[mcvtoo]

My Grandson's both play High School and College baseball and every time the National Anthem is played, both teams remove their hats and place them behind them, with neither team holding their hat over their heart.

Being I am an Ex-Navy patriot, I feel this is wrong and my Daughter disagrees with me that this is not protocol nor does it show disrespect to the flag or the anthem. I take the opposite view.

Can you help?

Thanks,

Jim

Jim thanks for your service. I am a retired 1SG, US ARMY. I also am Commander of our American Legion Post. You are correct proper Flag ettiquite is to remove their caps holding them in the fingers of the right hand with the palm of their right hand over their heart. They should be standing erect with their feet together at a 45 degree angle or they may stand erect with their feet shoulder width apart. These stances should mimmic the position of Attention or Parade Rest.

HOOAH!

[tropicgran]

My husband (veteran) just admonished me for not placing my hand over my heart the other day at a sporting event. I remember 40-45 years ago when I was in elementary school, it was common to put our hands over our hearts for the pledge of allegiance, but not for the national anthem. When did this change? I don't have anything against putting my hand over my heart for the anthem, but people are beginning to act like it's always been this way. Did 9-11 make people more vigilant about measuring others' patriotism?