New Veteran Flag Protocol

Flag Honors

INFORMATION FOR VETERANS ON RENDERING HONORS TO
THE FLAG AND TO THE NATIONAL ANTHEM


It is now
appropriate for Veterans who are NOT IN UNIFORM
to render a hand salute during the hoisting, lowering,
or passing of the United States Flag, and during
the playing of the National Anthem.


With regard
to hoisting, lowering or passing of the United
States Flag, the National Defense Authorization
Act of 2008 amended Title 4 of the United States
Code as follows:

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.

In
recognition that rendering honors while playing
the National Anthem was unintentionally omitted
from the prior year legislation, the National
Defense Authorization Act of 2009 amended Section
301(b)(1) of Title 36 of the United States Code
in the following manner:

(A) individuals in uniform
should give the military salute at the first note
of the anthem and maintain that position until
the last note;

(B) 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

(C) 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;