A Senseless Salute Or Presidential Tradition?

GyG's OSMT ^ | 27 June 06 | As Indicated

[gunnyg]

http://www.ronaldreagan.com/tradition.html PRESIDENTIAL TRADITION

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. Courtesy of Simon and Schuster ~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~ Just for contrast, another version of same story by MSM.... -RWG... ~~~~~

[gunnyg]

Continued....

http://www.network54.com/Forum/220604/message/1151415696/A+SENSELESS+SALUTE...OR%2C+PRESIDENTIAL+TRADITION-

[mtbopfuyn]

Bottom line is the president is the Commander in Chief.

[gunnyg]

Matter of fact, I personally think RR did a good thing establishing this tradirion!
On the other hand, seeing Bubba Klinton returning a salute wiuld not elicit the same feeling within me!!!!!

as for saluting in general...

http://gunnyg.blogspot.com/2006_03_28_gunnyg_archive.html

[Mrs. Darla Ruth Schwerin]

I think it's only common courtesy for the Commander-in-Chief to salute back when a member of the Armed Forces salutes him...

[gate2wire]

Lord, I miss him.