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

[Robin Hickman]

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Hello, TropicGran !

Welcome to the USA-Flag-Site Forums !


It doesn't really matter what a veteran says or what is written in a newspaper or in a "blog" somewhere. What matters is what is written in the U.S. Code on the subject.

The section of the U.S. Code that covers most of the "stuff" regarding the American Flag is located in Title 4 of the Code, and it is commonly referred to as the "The Flag Code". Do I think the "Flag Code" is always "right"? No, but then it IS the Flag Code!

Incidentally, most of it (Flag Code) was written back in the early 1920's and "codified" in 1923 (if my memory is correct). It has been "amended" from time-to-time since then.

The part of the U.S. Code that covers our National Anthem is located in Title 36. I'm not exactly sure when IT was "codified".

So..... What, exactly does Title 36 of the U.S. Code dictate in this kind of "situation"?

United States Code Title 36

§301. National Anthem

1. Designation. — The composition consisting of the words and music known as the Star-Spangled Banner is the national anthem.
2. Conduct During Playing — During rendition of the national anthem —
   1. when the flag is displayed —
      1. individuals in uniform should give the military salute at the first note of the anthem and maintain that position until the last note;
      2. members of the Armed Forces and veterans who are present but not in uniform may render the military salute in the manner provided for individuals in uniform; and
      3. all other persons present should face the flag and stand at attention with their right hand over the heart, and men not in uniform, if applicable, should remove their headdress with their right hand and hold it at the left shoulder, the hand being over the heart; and
   2. when the flag is not displayed, all present should face toward the music and act in the same manner they would if the flag were displayed.

So, now you know what the U.S. Code has to say about it. I hope that helps clarify the situation for you.


As far as the self-righteous Post-9/11 "Patriot Police" are concerned, I offer NO COMMENT at this time!


Robin Hickman
Eugene, Oregon, USA
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[tropicgran]

Robin, thanks for the info. I researched and found the US Code regarding the flag when I posted. Now that I know, I'll do it. But I'm just curious about the increase in hands over the heart. Maybe it was a regional or my city thing, but I know lots of people during my youth respectfully and attentively stood at attention w/o their hands over their hearts during the anthem. Times change, so can I.

[NAVA1974]

But I'm just curious about the increase in hands over the heart. Maybe it was a regional or my city thing, but I know lots of people during my youth respectfully and attentively stood at attention w/o their hands over their hearts during the anthem.

The Liberation of Kuwait / 1991 Gulf War prompted a tremendous resurgence of Patriotism in the USA. People started flying the American Flag again, people would actually sing the National Anthem, they would place their hand over their heart as the flag passed by or was raised (or during the National Anthem.) This was a great change from the national mood of the 1960's, 70's, and 80's.

The terrorist attacks of 11 September 2001 just reinforced this attitude of national pride.

Nick

[fizwiz]

The US Code now states to place your hand over your heart, but I agree with a previous poster that this was not always so. The code was last revised as far as I can tell in 1998, and there have been revisions prior to that. So some of the "oldsters" are correct in that we didn't always place our hand over our heart during the National Anthem, but did stand "at attention". As for the singer, most do not since many are right-handed and hold the microphone in their right-hand and probably would feel uncomfortable holding it in their left. As noted lately, many have enough trouble remembering the lines much less adding in any other unfamiliar feelings to rattle themselves. I would imagine a choir could easily hold their hands over their heart since they are not holding microphones. Of course the removal of a hat has been part of the etiquette for a long, long, long time.

[Will]

Hello! (From the United Kingdom I might add)

I found this thread while doing a bit of personal research and I see one of the posts that 'Non US citizens should put their hand over their heart but stand respectfully'. Well, I see no problem with that...except that of the several Americans that I've met during my time won't do the same for our National Anthem!

'God Save The Queen' or 'The National Anthem' as it is simply known to many people is a prayer to God to keep HM The Queen safe and grant her victory etc (the lyrics are quite self explanatory except that it is a prayer) is the national anthem of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, to be played at all official occasions etc. It holds high significance to us, just as your own National Anthem holds high significance to American citizens. However, in many experiences throughout my life, many Americans (that I've met anyway) will not 'stand respectfully' when the opening bar is played, many will continue about their business (in one particular occasion when a guest talked rather loudly through the National Anthem only to be rebuffed when it was over) and completely ignore it! Even when they are told it will be played or that it is currently playing.

British protocol is a bit simpler than your own. We simply rise and we stand respectfully, remove hats, sing along if we know the words (which we should) or (as a has been of the British Army) stand at attention and salute when we have headdress.

So please, respect our National Anthem as you respect your own...Especially when the very patriotic American (and once your own National Anthem) song of 'My Country, T'is of Thee is along to the same tune.

[NAVA1974]

Will,

Welcome to the USA Flag Forum.

Sadly, many younger Americans have lost the notion of "respect." (Not just for their flag and country, buf for anything else, for that matter, except money, but let's not get started on that.) So I am not surprised that they fail to honor your National Athem. And I am sorry that they give such a negative impression of us. Those of us old enough to know better understand the deep meaning of symbols like flags, anthems, and of those worthy of respect (regardless of whether we agree with their politics) like heads of state.

However, to put the best "spin" on the situation, Americans know that tune as "My Conuntry 'Tis of Thee" which is a patriotic song, but does not rise to the level of a National Anthem. If they were told to rise for the National Anthem, then they should, indeed, behave properly, regardless of whose anthem it is.

Nick A

[Peter Ansoff]

Greetings, Will! Glad to have you with us.

It's sort of curious that the US law pertaining to conduct during the playing of the national anthem (36 USC 301), does not distinguish between US citizens and others, and neither does 4 USC 4, which deals with conduct during recitation of the pledge of allegiance. The only distinction between US citizens and others appears in 4 USC 9, which addresses conduct when the flag is being raised, lowered, or passing in review. That section states that "Citizens of other countries present should stand at attention." Before it was revised in 2008, it said "aliens" instead of "citizens of other countries."

The melody of "God Save the Queen" is certainly popular as a national air. It's also the national anthem of Lichtenstein, the royal anthem of Norway, and has been used historically as a national song in Germany, Sweden, Russia and Hawaii at one time or another. (Not to mention the USA, of course.)

Peter Ansoff