Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1910-12-07
MILITARY FORMS.
The Why and Wherefore of Many
Army Customs.
HAND AND SWORD SAlUTES.
The Origin Of the Former Goes Back
TO the Time Of the 6orsias and the
Latter to the Knights of the Cru

Why does soldier when saluting q
superior raise his hand 10 his head
covering: The beginning dates back
to the time OF the Borgias. If not TO aH
earlier date Ia those days assassina-
ton was in vogue. and In order that
an inferior might not have a superior
at advantage the inferior was COM
PEELED when coming into his superior's
presence to raise his right hand, palm |
to the front, to show that no dagger |
was concealed there. From this old |
custom our hand salute has come down. |
The salute with the sword was not |
done that way In the beginning with |
out any reason. When knights OF the
crusades received their orders It was
the custom for them to call upon God
to witness their assumption of Che
orders given. To do this the sword
was raised to the front SO that the
hilt reached the lips. when the cross
formed by the hilt and blade could be
kissed and an oath registered to carry
out the orders faithfully. The drop
ping of the sword. point to the front.
| indicates submission.
Why In the funeral cortege OF
mounted officer or soldier is the horse.
saddled and equipped, with the boots
OF the late rider placed heels to the
front In the stirrups, led TO the place
of burial? To show by reversal OF the
| boots the owners march has ended.
We must go back to the days OF the
Romans for the reason why In the
service three volleys are fired over the
open grave OF comrade. Among the
Romans the burial consisted of the
throwing of earth three times on the
coffin. Three times was the dead man
called by name, which ended the cere-
mony. and as the friends and relatives
departed each said "Vale!" three
times. So as farewell to our dead
comrades we fire three volleys over
: the grave. Then the service called taps
is sounded. this closing the ceremony.
Why should the call taps be sounded
in preference to any other? because
= taps is the call for flights out" and
the lights Of life are out In the COM
rade who has ''jOlned the silent
. bivouac Of the dead" This ending OF
: service funeral dates back to the
e early forties, but did not become q
$ Fixed custom till late In the civil war
2 There was reason for causing all
! witnesses before a military court to
= remove the glove from the right hand
@ before taking the oath. The raising
e OF the hands and eyes toward heaven
q when taking an oath is Of great an
Z tiquity. When the Bible was printed
= the bare hand was laid on the book.
d which was afterward kissed. But the
5 Bible was not always at hand when
d needed So the custom Of raising the
v right hand and uncoverlng the head
r has groWa tnts general practice. In
d Olaen days the criminal was branded
g. in the palm of the right hand, and for
II this reason the custom OF requiring
ID the removal Of the glove come tnts
1t vogue in order that the hand might b
j. inspected.
Is The colored silk sash long worn By
81 officers of our army. which for many
st years has ceased to form part Of tn.
d uniform. except for general officers
II was not adopted simply because !
n, looked pretty 1t was originally IN
H. tended that this sash. which was yer,
mn strong. woven Of silk and could b.
stretched ont to over yard in width
" should be used as q hammock in whicl
M wounded officers could be carried OF
n, the battlefield.
Ia And likewise the guady colore
60 horsehair plume that flowed from tn
III helmet was not placed there because
A., looked so well. The original hair plum
to hung down on the shoulders of I'll
he wearer, and it was intended that
in should be safeguard against sabe
- cut aimed at the back of the mock. f(
"a, the long thick hair would turn III
g. blow and save decapitation or an ugl
Nc wound Today the little hair tuft see
=, on the headdress OF mounted soldier
II! Is the result
IA. There is II reason why the flag I
~, half staff. as an indication Of sorrov
49,, must always be holsted TO the top
re. the staff before being lowered. TT
-, flag is saluted when raised and loN
- cred only when II IL at the peak
To-, the staff So when ii is necessary
an, display IT nj half mast 1t must be raj
inc ed TO the top before being finally lo'
no cred for at this time the gun fires
T., salute. and either the band or t
mo trumpeters are sounding appropria
i'll. music or call.
e,I Twenty one guns. the number ftr
,be In the International salute. were n
=, selected at random. The number "
ri chosen by our government because
n. was the number long used by the Br
hoy ish for their international salute. w
mil the British used twenty-one guns W
100, no doubt due to an early custom Will
=. koH Cor N xvnrShin salufo seven QlI1