Page 2 - Nellis Creech NTTR Bullseye 3-11-16

2 March 11, 2016
www.aerotechnews.com/nellisafb
Why traffic stops during reveille, retreat
By John Turner
341st Missile Wing Public Affairs Office
MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE,
Mont. — As the drum roll of the
national anthem began on base, my
guests were puzzled when I stopped
our conversation mid-sentence, turned
toward the music and placed my right
hand over my heart. We were outdoors.
Nearby, traffic on Goddard Drive
lurched to a halt.
After the last note faded, I explained
that this event occurs every day as the
flag of the United States is lowered for
the day at retreat, and raised every
morning when for reveille. My visitors
were curious, even perplexed. Does this
happen at every base, they asked, and
why do cars have to stop?
I could only reply this was what I
was taught is proper behavior when I
went through Air Force basic training
in 1993, and that I have continued to
practice it as a civilian.
As it turns out, there is Air Force
written guidance on what to do when
the national colors are raised and
lowered each day. An excerpt from
Air Force Instruction 34-1201, 8.1.6.2,
“Protocol” reads:
“All sporting or physical training
activities will stop during Reveille and
Retreat (if the f lag is being raised or
lowered) with proper honors shown
to the flag. Members of the Armed
Forces and veterans who are present,
but not in uniform, may render the
military salute when outdoors. This
is true for hoisting, lowering or pass-
ing of the Unites States Flag and the
national anthem. All other individuals
will stand at attention and place their
right hand (with a hat if wearing one)
over their heart.”
The section also clearly says that
traffic must stop during these moments
of each day:
“If in a vehicle, during Reveille or
Retreat pull the car to the side of the
road and stop. All occupants sit quietly
at attention until the last note of To The
Color or the national anthem is played
(or the flag is fully raised or lowered).”
If reveille or retreat is played as a
Bullseye News Staff
Paul Kinison, Publisher, Aerotech News and Review
Barry Anderson, Advertising Sales
Karl Dean, Advertising Sales
Stuart Ibberson, Editor
Tinna Sellie, Editorial Layout
CONTACT: Advertising Sales (702) 876-4589
For display ads: e-mail barryanderson@aerotechnews.com
or e-mail KarlDean@aerotechnews.com of the products or services advertised.
For classified ads: e-mail classifieds@aerotechnews.com
CONTACT: Editorial Staff (702) 876-4039
For editorial staff: e-mail bullseye@aerotechnews.com
Commentary
prelude to the national anthem or “To
The Color,” vehicles in motion should
stop, according to Air Force Pamphlet
34-1202, 14.10.5, “Guide to Protocol.”
Some might think that since these
are written in official Air Force pub-
lications, the rules do not apply to
civilians. However, AFI 34-1201, 2.7.2,
states “dependents or visitors to an
Air Force installation are required to
show due respect for the flag of the
United States. Failure to do so renders
them subject to exclusion from the
installation.”
Regardless whether there are reper-
cussions for not heeding protocol, it is
important to remember that honoring
the national flag follows some of our
oldest military traditions.
AFPAM 34-1202, 14.10.5 tells us
that “in 1812, Reveille was a drum call
but as time passed it came to mark
when the flag was raised in the morn-
ing and honors paid to it.” During the
1800s, every activity of a soldier’s day
was strictly regulated by drum and
fife or bugle calls. Soldiers serving
in the Civil War and on the post-war
frontier including Montana learned
at least a dozen separate calls that
signaled when to wake up; fall in for
roll call, sick call and inspections; eat
their meals; care for animals; report to
guard mount, work details and dress
parades; and turn in for the night. Mu-
sic was so important to the good order
of a unit that U.S. Army regulations
of 1865 allowed for special enlistments
of qualified musicians, and regimental
band leaders were considered equal to
second lieutenants.
“The Star-Spangled Banner” be-
The Bullseye is published by Aerotech News and Review, available for purchase and use of patronage without regard
a private firm in no way connected with the U.S. Air Force, to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital
under exclusive written contract with Nellis Air Force
Base, Nev. Contents of the Bullseye are not necessarily the non-merit factor of the purchaser, user or patron.
official views of, or endorsed by, the U.S. Government, the
Department of Defense or the Department of the Air Force.
The appearance of advertising in this publication,
including inserts and supplements, does not constitute
an endorsement by the Department of Defense, the
Department of the Air Force or Aerotech News and Review
Everything advertised in the publication shall be made
The Bullseye newspaper can also be viewed online @ www.aerotechnews.com
Printed by Aerotech News and Review, Inc. (877) 247-9288 * www.aerotechnews.com
came our official national anthem
in 1931 by a congressional resolution
signed by President Herbert Hoover.
The impetus, however, began in 1892
on Fort Meade’s parade ground near
Sturgis, South Dakota, when post
commander Col. Caleb Carlton dis-
cussed with his wife the need for “a
National Air.” The colonel concluded
it should be “The Star-Spangled Ban-
ner,” whereupon he required it to be
played at retreat and at the close of
parades and concerts on the post.
“In addition to this I tried to en-
force respect for our national flag by
having every one rise and remove their
hats when the colors passed them,”
Carlton wrote in 1914. “Not long after-
ward I had an interview on the subject
with the Secretary of War, Daniel E.
Lamont, and my impression is that
it was but a few months later that he
issued an order requiring ‘The Star-
Spangled Banner’ to be played at every
Army post every evening at retreat.”
By World War II, Army regulations
governing outdoor honors for “To
The Color” and the national anthem
specified that all personnel mounted
on animals would halt and render a
salute while mounted; and that ve-
hicles in motion were to be brought to
a halt. Furthermore, “persons riding
in a passenger car or motorcycle will
dismount and salute.” Individuals
in charge of other types of military
vehicles were to dismount and render
a hand salute while other occupants
remained seated at attention. Tank
and armored car commanders were
to salute from their vehicles. It was
not sufficient for the commander of
status, physical handicap, political affiliation or any other
The deadline for submissions to the Bullseye is
no later than Wednesday, 4:30 p.m., one week prior
to desired publication date. Briefs are due no later
than Wednesday, 3 p.m. one week prior to desired
publication date. Articles must also be submitted no
later than Wednesday, 4:30 p.m., one week prior to
desired publication date unless the editor provides
an exception to a late-breaking story or article, and
BULLSEYE
Facebook.com/NellisBullseye
an entire convoy to salute, regulations
in 1943 advised, though this last item
seems to have been rescinded by 1946
when War Department Field Manual
22-5, “Leadership, Courtesy and
Drill,” was published.
This brief history of protocol for
“To The Colors” and “The Star-Span-
gled Banner” only reminds us that
proper courtesies are deeply rooted in
military tradition.
More poignant — and what I reflect
upon when I’m standing at attention
as the music plays — are the sacrifices
of those who came before us. Francis
Scott Key penned the words for “The
Star-Spangled Banner” in 1814 while
watching American forces absorb the
British bombardment of Fort McHen-
ry in Baltimore Harbor, Maryland.
During the Civil War, one of the high-
est honors a soldier could receive was
selection to bear the national colors
and guide his regiment in battle. The
color guard became a natural target
for enemy fire, and consequently a
disproportionate number of Congres-
sional Medals of Honor were awarded
to men who protected the flag with
their lives.
I think of the soldiers in blue who
held the field at Gettysburg, Pennsyl-
vania, and clambered over the walls
at Battery Wagner, South Carolina,
to preserve the Union and crush
slavery. I think of the Marines who
fought their way up Mount Suribachi
in 1945 to plant the U.S. f lag over Iwo
Jima, even as the killing and dying
continued around them. I think of the
Airmen shot down over Vietnam who
were held prisoner in the infamous
‘Hanoi Hilton’ and secretly fabricated
an American flag to rally their spirits,
despite the certainty of torture and
deprivations if discovered.
These few minutes to pause as the
flag is raised or lowered each day are,
to me, a moment to introspect who we
are as Airmen and as a people.
Stopping to honor the flag is but
a small token of our citizenship. It
is also a courtesy we should all feel
proud to offer.
articles must include a byline (author of the story).
For all submissions, a name and phone number of a
person to contact must be included in the event questions
arise.
All material is edited for accuracy, brevity, clarity
and conformity to the Associated Style Guide, to include
military ranks and proper writing etiquette.
Corrections: The Bullseye staff members strive for
accuracy each week. If you notice an error in fact, contact
the Bullseye staff at (702) 876-4039, or e-mail bullseye@
aerotechnews.com, and we will consider publishing a
correction when appropriate.