Dan Meyer CVSO Article due 15 May 2009

May 11, 2009 8:22 AM
Subject: CVSO Article due 15 May 2009

By: Dan Meyer
The office hours for the Lac qui Parle County Veterans Service Office are 8:30 am - 4:30 pm Monday through Friday. My office phone number is (320) 598-3445.

Just a reminder. I will be out of my office from May 14 -23, on the "Meyer Annual Father and Son's" Ontario, Canada Fishing Trip. Wish me well, its going to be cold!

The American Flag at the Lac qui Parle County Courthouse will be flown this week in honor of Peder Melvin Trelstad. Peder was a Private in the U.S. Army, who served our nation proudly during World War I. He was born on September 9, 1891 and passed away on January 6, 1983. When you go past the front of our beautiful County Courthouse this week, take the time to look up at our Nation's Flag and remember Peder's sacrifice to the United States of America. Mr. Peder Melvin Trelstad a true American hero, because freedom isn't free.

A new law authorizes veterans' salutes during National Anthem. 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. 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 October 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 January 28, 2008.

Until next week, take care and "Fair Winds and Following Seas!"