Happy Veteran’s Day, everyone!

I didn’t have to work today, so I’m taking it easy at home.  It sure is tempting to take a lot of naps.  But I did manage to straighten up around the apartment; I cleaned off a counter that’s become the junk pile counter; and I’m doing laundry.  Other than that I plan to play on the computer and crochet on my afghan I’m making.  Like I said, easy day.

How about you?  How are you spending your Veteran’s Day (Remembrance Day for my Canadian family)?

In veteran’s news, Congress recently passed a law that now allows both former and active duty military to salute the flag when it passes or during the national anthem even while wearing civilian clothes.  Before you had to be in uniform, or in the case of former military, wearing their service’s or organization’s headgear.  But now you can render a traditional military salute even when out of uniform.  Before when wearing civilian clothes you had to stand at attention or put your hand over your heart like civilians do.  I should mention that military members can still do that; the salute thing is an authorization, not mandated.

This new law is going to take some getting used to for me.  In the Navy we don’t salute when uncovered, ever.  And we also don’t salute indoors.  So the idea of saluting in civilian clothes (when I would certainly be uncovered) is something I’m not sure would be “right.”  Interestingly it was someone from the Army (don’t remember if former or active duty) who proposed the bill.  The Army (and the Air Force) do salute uncovered.

So whether you salute the flag today or stand at attention or put your hand on your heart, or whether you don’t even see a flag today, have a happy Veteran’s Day!  And think of those “Down Range.”  May they come home soon.  Until then, I will continue to support them, to help make it possible for them to do their job.