Page 2 - Edwards AFB Desert Wings 3-11-16

Desert Wings Commentary March 11, 2016
www.aerotechnews.com/edwardsafb
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by John Turner +RZHYHU$),VWDWHV³GHSHQGHQWVRUYLVLWRUV DVDOXWHZKLOHPRXQWHGDQGWKDWYHKLFOHVLQPRWLRQZHUHWREH
0DOPVWURP$)%0RQW to an Air Force installation are required to show due respect EURXJKWWRDKDOW)XUWKHUPRUH³SHUVRQVULGLQJLQDSDVVHQJHU
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JXHVWVZHUHSX]]OHGZKHQ,VWRSSHGRXUFRQYHUVDWLRQPLG and render a hand salute while other occupants remained
VHQWHQFHWXUQHGWRZDUGWKHPXVLFDQGSODFHGP\ULJKWKDQG Regardless whether there are repercussions for not heed- seated at attention. Tank and armored car commanders were
RYHUP\KHDUW:HZHUHRXWGRRUV1HDUE\WUDI¿FRQ*RGGDUG LQJSURWRFROLWLVLPSRUWDQWWRUHPHPEHUWKDWKRQRULQJWKH WRVDOXWHIURPWKHLUYHKLFOHV,WZDVQRWVXI¿FLHQWIRUWKHFRP-
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HYHU\GD\DWSPDVWKHÀDJRIWKH8QLWHG6WDWHVLVORZ- was a drum call but as time passed it came to mark when the &RXUWHV\DQG'ULOO´ZDVSXEOLVKHG
HUHGIRUWKHGD\DWUHWUHDWDQGUDLVHGHYHU\PRUQLQJDWDP ÀDJZDVUDLVHGLQWKHPRUQLQJDQGKRQRUVSDLGWRLW´'XU-
ZKHQIRUUHYHLOOH0\YLVLWRUVZHUHFXULRXVHYHQSHUSOH[HG LQJWKHVHYHU\DFWLYLW\RIDVROGLHU¶VGD\ZDVVWULFWO\ This brief history of protocol for “To The Colors” and “The
'RHVWKLVKDSSHQDWHYHU\EDVHWKH\DVNHGDQGZK\GRFDUV UHJXODWHGE\GUXPDQG¿IHRUEXJOHFDOOV6ROGLHUVVHUYLQJLQ Star-Spangled Banner” only reminds us that proper courtesies
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learned at least a dozen separate calls that signaled when to
I could only reply this was what I was taught is proper be- ZDNHXSIDOOLQIRUUROOFDOOVLFNFDOODQGLQVSHFWLRQVHDW 0RUHSRLJQDQW²DQGZKDW,UHÀHFWXSRQZKHQ,¶PVWDQG-
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DQGWKDW,KDYHFRQWLQXHGWRSUDFWLFHLWDVDFLYLOLDQ details and dress parades; and turn in for the night. Music those who came before us. Francis Scott Key penned the
was so important to the good order of a unit that U.S. Army ZRUGVIRU³7KH6WDU6SDQJOHG%DQQHU´LQZKLOHZDWFK-
$VLWWXUQVRXWWKHUHLV$LU)RUFHZULWWHQJXLGDQFHRQZKDW UHJXODWLRQVRIDOORZHGIRUVSHFLDOHQOLVWPHQWVRITXDOL- ing American forces absorb the British bombardment of Fort
to do when the national colors are raised and lowered each ¿HGPXVLFLDQVDQGUHJLPHQWDOEDQGOHDGHUVZHUHFRQVLGHUHG 0F+HQU\LQ%DOWLPRUH+DUERU0G'XULQJWKH&LYLO:DU
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³3URWRFRO´UHDGV to bear the national colors and guide his regiment in battle.
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5HYHLOOHDQG5HWUHDWLIWKHÀDJLVEHLQJUDLVHGRUORZHUHG GHQW+HUEHUW+RRYHU7KHLPSHWXVKRZHYHUEHJDQLQ Medals of Honor were awarded to men who protected the
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)RUFHVDQGYHWHUDQVZKRDUHSUHVHQWEXWQRWLQXQLIRUP when post commander Col. Caleb Carlton discussed with his
may render the military salute when outdoors. This is true ZLIHWKHQHHGIRU³D1DWLRQDO$LU´7KHFRORQHOFRQFOXGHG ,WKLQNRIWKHVROGLHUVLQEOXHZKRKHOGWKH¿HOGDW*HWW\V-
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DQGWKHQDWLRQDODQWKHP$OORWKHULQGLYLGXDOVZLOOVWDQGDW quired it to be played at retreat and at the close of parades and :DJQHU6&WRSUHVHUYHWKH8QLRQDQGFUXVKVODYHU\,WKLQN
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“In addition to this I tried to enforce respect for our national and dying continued around them. I think of the Airmen shot
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side of the road and stop. All occupants sit quietly at attention but a few months later that he issued an order requiring ‘The
until the last note of To The Color or the national anthem is 6WDU6SDQJOHG%DQQHU¶WREHSOD\HGDWHYHU\$UP\SRVWHYHU\ 7KHVHIHZPLQXWHVWRSDXVHDVWKHÀDJLVUDLVHGRUORZHUHG
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Airmen and as a people.
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DFFRUGLQJWR$LU)RUFH3DPSKOHW³*XLGH that all personnel mounted on animals would halt and render zenship. It is also a courtesy we should all feel proud to offer.
to Protocol.”

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Commander’s
Action Line

email: speak2cc@edwards.af.mil

The Commander’s Action Line gives all Airmen, re-
tirees, families and community members a direct link to
Brig. Gen. Carl Schaefer, 412th Test Wing commander.
The Action Line can be used to express constructive
points of view on the policies and procedures of the
base; discuss safety and security issues; and address
problems, concerns, or suggestions after traditional
methods have been exhausted.

The Commander’s Action Line should not be the
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commanders.

Action Line queries may be submitted by sending an
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Action Line as the subject heading or by calling (661)
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