Veteran American flag hand salute stalled in House of Representatives
There is a bill in the works in Congress that veterans will be very interested in. Senate Bill 1877, introduced by Oklahoma Senator James Inholfe on July 25, will prescribe that veterans in or out of uniform will present a hand salute to the American Flag during its hoisting, lowering, or passing.
At the present time, Title 4 of the United States Code reads that most citizens shall remove their hats and place their hand over their heart at the flag passes by, is hoisted or lowered.
According to the Library of Congress website this bill passed in the Senate on the same day Senator Inholfe introduced it. As of August 10, it was referred to the House Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties, which is part of the House Judiciary Committee.
Since no further action on this bill has been scheduled up to this date, a letter or dispatch to Representative Wally Herger might be useful. His web page is www.house.gov/herger, and I have just sent out a dispatch encouraging him to support the bill. Obviously I can use your help with this campaign.
Comments
I have also emailed Jim Sensenbrenner, who sits on the House Judiciary committee, on this as well...that is supposedly where the legislation landed, along with a identical bill, HR 3380.
Posted by: Pete Fanning | October 1, 2007 09:36 AM
I and all of my vet friends are 100% in favor
Posted by: SGM Ronald E. Biggs USA Ret. | October 3, 2007 04:12 PM
As an active duty and retired military member I ALWAYS render the hand salute. It is the way I was trained and nothing else would feel right to me.
Posted by: CMSgt (Ret) John Stenstrom | March 19, 2008 04:45 PM
I heard recently that this honor to the flag has been approved. Can someone confirm or deny that fact? I think it is a special honor to the flag and ever Vet I have mentioned it to agrees as well. I am Navy Vietnam Era Vet.
Posted by: Bob Barrett | May 3, 2008 09:07 AM