|
?:reviewBody
|
-
The above-displayed photograph does not hail from a November 2009 observance of Veterans Day or a Fort Hood memorial service; it was taken in May 2009 at Arlington National Cemetery's Memorial Amphitheater in conjunction with a Memorial Day wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknowns: As can be seen in the following video clip of the event, this picture was snapped just as President Obama took the stage in the Memorial Amphitheater during the playing of Hail to the Chief. Hence, the photo is not, as suggested above, a picture of the president inappropriately standing with his hands folded while others pay their respects to America's war dead with traditional gestures; it is a picture of others showing appropriate deference during the playing of music that represents their president and commander-in-chief. President Obama is correctly standing with his hands lowered, because it would be inappropriate for him to be engaged in a gesture of saluting himself. (Department of Defense instructions state that During all renditions of 'Hail to the Chief' by military musical organizations, military personnel in uniform, other than band personnel, shall accord it the same honor as they would the rendition of 'The Star-Spangled Banner.' Similar protocol is optional for non-uniformed civilians.) President Obama can also be viewed in C-SPAN video of the event standing with his hand over his heart at appropriate portions of the ceremony, while a news photograph similarly captured the president paying his respects in that manner:
(en)
|
![[This page as RDF]](http://data.gesis.org/claimskg/static/rdf-icon.gif){kind=icon}