George Rebane

This item of pride in having served our country has caused much confusion during the last couple of years.  There should be no confusion, U.S. veterans may now salute the flag, thanks to the efforts of U.S. Senator Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.). Inhofe's Senate Bill 1877 passed by unanimous consent, clarifying U.S. law to allow veterans and servicemen not in uniform to salute the flag.  President George W. Bush signed it into law in the Defense Authorization Act of 2008.  The law now reads –

Section 9 of title 4, United States Code, is amended by striking 'all persons present' and all that follows through the end of the section and inserting the following: 'all persons present in uniform should render the military salute. Members of the Armed Forces and veterans who are present but not in uniform may render the military salute. All other persons present should face the flag and stand at attention with their right hand over the heart, or if applicable, remove their headdress with their right hand and hold it at the left shoulder, the hand being over the heart. Citizens of other countries present should stand at attention. All such conduct toward the flag in a moving column should be rendered at the moment the flag passes.'