What Do you think? The US salutes

gameFACE wrote:So it was a "planned" event? That would make it even more of a a cheap photo op.

GrandeDavid wrote:Here's what I think:

If you look at the size of their hands its easy to understand why they are so good at what they do.

Proper ceremony procedures are found in Air Force Manual 36-2203, "Drill and Ceremonies."

If a commander desires, a reveille ceremony may accompany the raising of the flag. This ceremony takes place in the vicinity of the base flagstaff -- for us, Bldg. 180, the 75th Air Base Wing headquarters building -- or in the squadron area and is held after sunrise. The commander and troops march to a predesignated position near the flagstaff, halt, face toward the flagstaff and dress. The flag security detail arrives at the flagstaff at this time and remains at attention. The commander commands "parade rest," then, at the specified time for reveille, "sound reveille." The flag detail assumes the position of attention, moves to the flagstaff and attaches the flag to the halyards.

After reveille has been played, the commander commands "squadron attention" and "present arms," then faces the flagstaff and executes present arms. On the first note of the national anthem or "To the Colors," the flag security detail raises the flag briskly. The commander holds the salute until the last note of the music is played, then executes order arms, faces about and commands "order, arms." The troops are then marched back to their area and dismissed.

If you're in uniform but not part of a formal reveille ceremony, you're expected to pause when you hear reveille over the base public address system, face the direction of the music or flag, come to attention, then go to parade rest. Upon playing of the national anthem or "To the Colors," come to attention at the first note and salute. At the end of the song, lower your salute and continue on your way. If reveille is all that is played, you still pause, face the direction of the music or flag, come to attention and then go to parade rest until the music is completed. Then you continue on your way.

The retreat ceremony, outlined in AFMAN 36-2203, takes place at the base flagstaff and follows much the same drill procedures as reveille, though it is more detailed. At Hill AFB, retreat is sounded at the specified time over the public address system. During the playing of retreat, junior flag security detail members assume the position of attention and move to the flagstaff to arrange the halyards for proper lowering of the flag. Once the halyards are arranged, the detail's junior members execute parade rest in unison.

After retreat is played, the commander faces about and commands "squadron attention" and "present arms," then faces to the front and also assumes present arms. Upon playing of the national anthem or "To the Colors," the detail's junior members lower the flag slowly and with dignity. The commander executes order arms when the last note of the music is played and the flag has been securely grasped. The commander faces about, gives the troops "order, arms," and then faces to the front. Once the flag is properly folded and secured, the flag detail marches away and the troops are then marched to their area and dismissed.

If you're in uniform and not part of the formal retreat ceremony, and you hear retreat over the public address system, you're expected to pause, face the direction of the flag or the music, come to attention and then go to parade rest. Upon playing of the national anthem or "To the Colors," come to attention at the first note and salute. At the last note of the song, lower your salute and continue on your way.

Military that are outdoors in civilian clothing take the same action as when in uniform, except men remove their hats with the right hand and hold it at the left shoulder with the right hand over the heart. Men without hats and women salute by standing at attention and placing the right hand over the heart.

If you are in a vehicle during an Air Force flag ceremony, the driver stops at the first note of "The Star-Spangled Banner" or "To the Colors." The driver and passengers remain seated at attention until the last note is played.

And what about civilians? According to the Flag Code, approved by Congress on July 7, 1976, all present should stand at attention, facing the flag with the right hand over the heart during the playing of the national anthem.

Our reveille and retreat flag ceremonies provide us an opportunity to show our respect to our nation's flag and our pride of being Air Force members.

I challenge each and every one of you to be in a hurry to go outside of the building when you hear the first notes of reveille or retreat. I encourage you to pause for a moment or two each day and pay tribute to the flag that represents all the men and women who serve or have served honorably, instead of quickly climbing in the car.

Military bases have a morning exercise called Reveille that most who don't work there miss.