Thinking of happier times

D

deanf

New member
In this time of uncertainty, I offer this vignette of happier times. Something to take your mind off what might happen . . .
http://www.ronaldreagan.com/tradition.html

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>I never ceased to enjoy reviewing our men and women in uniform and hope I started a new tradition for presidents. As commander in chief, I discovered it was customary for our uniformed men and women to salute whenever they saw me. When I'd walk down the steps of a helicopter, for example, there was always a marine waiting there to salute me. I was told presidents weren't supposed to return salutes, so I didn't, but this made me feel a little uncomfortable. Normally, a person offering a salute waits until it is returned, then brings down his hand. Sometimes, I realized, the soldier, sailor, marine, or airman giving me a salute wasn't sure when he was supposed to lower his hand. Initially, I nodded and smiled and said hello and thought maybe that would bring down the hand, but usually it didn't. Finally, one night when Nancy and I were attending a concert at the Marine Corps headquarters, I told the commandant of marines, "I know it's customary for the president to receive these salutes, but I was once an officer and realize that you're not supposed to salute when you're in civilian clothes. I think there ought to be a regulation that the president could return a salute inasmuch as he is commander in chief and civilian clothes are his uniform." "Well, if you did return a salute," the general said, "I don't think anyone would say anything to you about it."

The next time I got a salute, I saluted back. A big grin came over the marine's face and down came his hand. From then on, I always returned salutes. When George Bush followed me into the White House, I encouraged him to keep up the tradition.[/quote]


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"Anyone feel like saluting the flag which the strutting ATF and FBI gleefully raised over the smoldering crematorium of Waco, back in April of ‘93?" -Vin Suprynowicz
 
That's sweet. Thanks

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"Quis custodiet ipsos custodes" RKBA!
 
There is an exception I guess. My dad was in the air force, and is now retired. To get in and out of the base gate we had a sticker on his windshield, that said he was airforce/officer. The gate guard always saluted when we went in the gate, knowing it was an officer car, and my dad always saluted back. I'm pretty sure that that was regulation, even in civilian clothes.

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IF you're not willing to die for your rights/beliefs, don't try to take mine.
 
For a guy who was 'just an actor' and not considered too bright (not necessarily true) Reagan was a decent man and a gentleman.

I once read that he held the Presidency in such respect that he refused to take off his suit coat in the Oval Office, thinking it would diminish the atmosphere there.

I miss him.

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BadMedicine,

Different branches have different regulations.

Army/Air Force, to the best of my knowledge, salute indoors without "hats", and in civilian clothes.

Navy/Marines only salute outdoors, when in uniform, and with "covers" (hats) on. The exception to the indoors rule is when they are armed or wearing a "duty belt", in which case they will be wearing a cover.

BTW, Clinton salutes the Marines. I can't imagine why they salute him except to avoid a court martial.

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7824_DH.gif



Oregon residents please support the Oregon Firearms Federation, our local "No compromise" chapter of the GOA. http://www.oregonfirearms.org


Semper Fi!

[This message has been edited by Longshot (edited November 10, 2000).]
 
I miss Ronnie too! A true class act- it'd have been great if he could have been at the White House b'day former Presidents bash last night....
 
Longshot, "Army/Air Force, to the best of my knowledge, salute indoors without 'hats', and in civilian clothes."

Well, :) I don't know what they do now; but as of 1 June 1979 (when I retired with 20 years of indentured servitude) Zoomies did not render the military hand salute indoors, while "uncovered" or in civilian clothes.

Saluting was not done in civilian clothes - not even to the Commander-in-Chief. (Sigh. Back when we actually *had* one. Sigh.)

There were other exceptions, for example:

- Anywhere (indoors or outdoors) if the National Anthem is played, face the flag (or the music if the flag is not visible) and render the appropriate salute. In uniform use the military salute (actually it's "present arms" in this case). If in civilian attire, render the civilian salute (uncover, hand or hat over the heart).

- Regardless of attire, Zoomies didn't salute on the flight line or other "indicated" areas - indicated/directed by the CO - such as certain walkways between buildings or inside small "secure" areas.

- When in uniform and formally "reporting" to an officer the subordinate salutes and holds it until the officer renders a *proper* return salute. Yes, as a matter of fact, at times that DID turn into an extended "present arms" while the slob behind the desk tried to get it right! ;)

Depending upon the situation, persons "under arms" (inside or outside) may or may not be required to salute. As a member of the Air Force, but not the Air Police (Security Polices), we weren't allowed to have "guns" so I never learned those rules! :D :D

- Honor guards had special rules.

PS. I'm only partially joking about the "guns" crack. I actually was called a "pervert" by the HQ Squadron Section Commander because I owned handguns. My retort danged near got me court-martialed. :D (Whether or not he was right is not the point - his "cause" was unfounded and irrelevant! :D )

[This message has been edited by Dennis (edited November 10, 2000).]
 
You know, once upon a time, Clinton went to Hungary and visited a bunch of us soldiers who were staging for a camping trip in Bosnia. We had just missed another Christmas because Maggie and Bill wanted to use the army to solve another of someone elses problems. I remember waiting for about an hour to cross an empty road that he was supposed to come down on his way back to the plane (Guess they didn't trust us much). When he finally got his rear end moving, he sped past with his motorcade. Some poor 1Lt. a few yards away tried to call several hundred annoyed cold delayed and generally pissed off soldiers to Attention and Present Arms. Far as I remember, nobody twitched.

Kind of says something huh?
 
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