Flag Salute: Veterans Not In Uniform May Now Render Military Salute
The controversy about rendering the hand salute has been solved by the President signing the National Defense Authorization Act of 2008 (Public Law 1410-181) and included a section (Section 594) addressing this issue.According to the law, “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 the 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.”