What is the meaning behind the military salute?
Origins of the military salute
No one knows the exact origins of the military salute. But it stands to reason that as the best-trained, best-equipped, most disciplined fighting force in the world, the Roman army probably had in place some form of hand gesture used as a sign of respect to a military officer.
Medieval greeting
A similar hand gesture was adopted by medieval knights who raised their visors with their right hand upon greeting a comrade or superior.
Show of respect
By the 15th century, the gesture had evolved to become a popular way of showing respect and often included removing the hat.
Hats off!
The American Revolutionary War also saw British combatants salute by removing their hats. The gesture is often witnessed during modern-day reenactments of the 18th-century insurrection.
Clenched fists on the High Seas
During the Napoleonic Wars, British naval crews saluted officers by touching a clenched fist to the brow as though grasping a hat-brim between fingers and thumb, rounded off with a "aye aye, sir."
A display of respect
The palms of deck hands were very often dirty and smeared with tar and pitch. To expose them was seen as a mark of disrespect. The monarch therefore decreed that the palm be turned down when saluting. Even today, the British Navy salute is taken with palm of the hand facing down towards the shoulder.
Acknowledging the Head of State
In the United Kingdom, the custom of saluting commissioned officers relates wholly to the commission given by King Charles III to that officer, not the person. Therefore, when a subordinate airman, for example, salutes an officer, he is indirectly acknowledging the King as Head of State. A salute returned by the officer is on behalf of the monarch.
The American way
In the United States, a salute is made with the palm of the hand faced down towards the shoulder.
Uniform salute
The United States Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard do not salute when the head is uncovered or out of uniform.
Different rendering
In this photograph, Polish tank commanders are taking the salute from their vehicle. But do you notice anything different in the rendering of the gesture?
Hitler's salute
The salute signaled obedience to the party's leader, Adolf Hitler, and to glorify the German nation. The gesture was modified by the Nazi dictator on numerous occasions when he began delivering the "Hitler salute" where his palm was parallel to the sky. Use of the Fascist salute is illegal in modern-day Germany, as well as in Austria, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic.
Saluting and bowing
Japanese military personnel render the hand salute on all occasions when greeting another military service member or counterpart, regardless of rank. As in the US military, saluting in Japan is usually restricted to out of doors. Uniquely, however, it's not uncommon for Japanese military personnel to also bow. In fact, saluting and bowing are common and highly respected practices within both military and civilian sectors.
The greatest honor
Medal of honor recipients are also afforded the salute. The medal is awarded to recognize American soldiers, sailors, marines, airmen, guardians, and coast guard personnel who have distinguished themselves by acts of valor.
Veterans' salute
Occasions of when to salute include during ceremonial events, for example when honoring veterans such as these USS Arizona survivors, who escaped the doomed battleship during the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941.
