Military-style Hand Salute/National Anthem

WASHINGTON -- Veterans and active-duty military not in uniform can now render the military-style hand salute during the playing of the national anthem, thanks to changes in federal law that took effect this month. "The military salute is a unique gesture of respect that marks those who have served in our nation's armed forces," said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Dr. James B. Peake. "This provision allows the application of that honor in all events involving our nation's flag." The new provision improves upon a little known change in federal law last year that authorized veterans to render the military-style hand salute during the raising, lowering or passing of the flag, but it did not address salutes during the national anthem.

Last year's provision also applied to members of the armed forces while not in uniform. Traditionally, members of the nation's veterans service organizations have rendered the hand-salute during the national anthem and at events involving the national flag while wearing their organization's official head-gear. The most recent change, authorizing hand-salutes during the national anthem by veterans and out-of-uniform military personnel, was sponsored by Sen. Jim Inhofe of Oklahoma, an Army veteran.

It was included in the Defense Authorization Act of 2009, which President Bush signed on Oct. 14. The earlier provision authorizing hand-salutes for veterans and out-of-uniform military personnel during the raising, lowering or passing of the flag, was contained in the National Defense Authorization Act of 2008, which took effect Jan. 28, 2008.

x-posted at Some Soldier's Mom

Happy Days Are Here Again

...the world can live in fear again:

President Medvedev ordered missiles to be stationed up against Nato’s borders yesterday to counter American plans to build a missile defence shield.

Speaking within hours of Barack Obama’s election, Mr Medvedev announced that Russia would base Iskander missiles in its Baltic exclave of Kaliningrad – the former German city – next to the border with Poland.

He did not say whether the short-range missiles would carry nuclear warheads.

Senior House lawmakers are ratcheting up pressure on Defense Department officials to release congressionally approved funding for an Air Force fighter that has been the subject of a running battle between Pentagon and Air Force leaders.

In a letter to Defense Secretary Robert Gates, who has said he wants the F-22 Raptor's fate decided by the next presidential administration, senior House Armed Services Committee lawmakers demanded an explanation for why $140 million already set aside for the plane's suppliers is being held up.
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Lawmakers appropriated $500 million in the fiscal 2009 budget toward an additional 20 jets, which the Bush administration hadn't sought. The $140 million in question is part of that money.
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Mr. Gates has said the plane isn't relevant to post-Cold War conflicts such as those in Afghanistan and Iraq. Deputy Defense Secretary Gordon England would rather buy more Lockheed F-35 Joint Strike Fighters, which are cheaper but not as fast or as stealthy.
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The letter was signed by House Armed Services Committee Chairman Ike Skelton (D., Mo.), ranking member Duncan Hunter (R., Calif.), chairman of the Subcommittee on Air and Land Forces Neil Abercrombie (D., Hawaii), and the ranking member of the subcommittee, Jim Saxton (R., N.J.).

(Yes, I'm kidding. None of this is happy news.)