Stand Proud - America Strong

The U.S. military hand salute is exact. The right hand goes up sharply, fingers extended and joined, the tip of the forefinger at the rim of the cap just above and to the right of the eye, the upper arm level with the ground. The junior member salutes first, and the salute is returned.

Civilians have a different gesture for the flag, a hand over the heart. Federal law now adds that veterans, and service members who are not in uniform, may render the military salute to the flag too. The word is "may," not "must."

The picture is built like a mid-century poster. A man in a work shirt and brimmed cap stands in profile, saluting with his right hand at the visor, in flat navy and dusty teal. Behind him a flag billows across the frame with its stars at the left and red and cream stripes below, and gold rays fan out from the upper right. "Stand Proud" runs across a navy band at the top, "America Strong" across another at the bottom, on a soft cream ground.