| Nice topic Gunny! That's why I selected it for my first post since returning to our fine community here.
Historians, and I'm sure many DIs and Drill Sergeants and many others besides believe that the origin of the salute goes back to the days of chivalry as a recognition of knightly respect for one warrior to another as well as their superiors and things and places of honor. It probably goes further back than that.
I have always held the salute in such regard and utilize it in that fashion as I see fit. It would be nice, however, if this could be an official policy and thereby sanctioned and the privilege secured. I wish the General well in his campaign and would like to support it in whatever way I could.
Just a personal postscript, do you folks remember my mentioning my friend, Bobby the former Marine sniper I met here working on my house one day and quickly became good friends with? Since pretty much the day I met him he has always greeted me with a smart USMC style salute. By that I mean fast and firm in its delivery. I return it as I do all others - with recognition, a certain amount of appreciation (tailored to the individual and the occasion of course) as well as a real and abiding regard for the act itself. Bobby is long out of the service and will never return. Still he is what he is, a warrior, and I regard him as such.
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"Do not forget your dogs of war, your big guns, which are the most-to-be respected arguments of the rights of kings."
- Frederick the Great, King of Prussia  |