Define Salute

Saluting is a hand gesture and greeting that shows respect to the recipient. Important individuals are entitled to a salute, such as a president. Saluting comes in many forms and not just hand gestures. One can salute the queen of England with a bow. One can salute a bride and groom with a toast. There is a gun salute and cannon salute for those in the military. Giving a certain type of hand salute can signify power, strength and unity.

Ways to Salute

Most of the time, you will find that it is the military giving greetings in a hand salute fashion. However, other people give hand salutes too, such as a drum major in a marching band during a performance. A salute can be an expression of good will, as when it involves other than a hand gesture, but instead a tip of the hat or a bow, as in saluting the queen of England with a bow. Giving a toast at a special celebration is a form of saluting. It is the tradition in China that when saluting someone, you greet them with folded arms and a slight bow when you come face to face.

Raised Fist Salute

Salutes come in all kinds of fashions and style. One in particular is the clenched fist salute, which is the symbol of the black struggle here in America and in Zimbabwe, Africa. The raised fist salute was used by the Black Panther Party. It was also used by 1968 Olympic silver and gold medalists Tommie Smith and John Carlos to show unity and black power. Zimbabwe president Robert Mugabe raises his fist to salute black power in his country.

Kung Fu Salute

A salute means different things to different people, although the gesture almost always expresses respect and admiration. The kung fu salute, for instance, shows power and respect by clenching the right hand and placing the left hand on top of the right. This act is performed during kung fu lessons while one is standing at attention greeting the headmaster or teacher.

Saluting the Flag

In America today, when we salute the flag, we place our hands over our hearts when we recite the Pledge of Allegiance at school and at football games during the National Anthem. However, in 1892, when people saluted the American flag and said the Pledge of Allegiance, they raised the right hand and held the right arm out lengthwise. The fingers pointed toward the American Flag, while the left hand remained at their side while saluting. This method was replaced by the hand-over-heart gesture during World War II because the arm-raising gesture was used by Nazis and Italian Fascists.

Military Saluting Etiquette

When it comes to saluting, certain people are entitled to this gesture. Any person in the armed forces should always salute the president of the United States; anyone awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor also should be given this respect. The leaders of foreign countries should be saluted as well. When in the military, a private, or any other lower-rank person, should always be the first to salute when encountering a higher ranking individual. A salute should be given when any military personnel are delivering information to top military officials. However, it is not necessary to salute a military person who isn't in uniform. Military personnel should also hold a salute gesture while the National Anthem is played.

References

• Military Salutes
• History of the Black Fist of Freedom
• Getting your Hand Salute Right

Resources

• Kung Fu Salute
• Salute
• Salute Encyclopedia