❓ why
Why do soldiers salute?
historymilitary
Quick Answer
The salute likely evolved from the custom of removing or touching one's hat as a mark of respect.
The Full Story
In earlier centuries, lower-ranking people removed their hats before superiors. As military headgear grew heavier and more elaborate, soldiers began simply touching the brim instead. A 1745 order in the British Coldstream Guards told men not to remove their hats but to 'clap their hands to their hats'. Another popular, though unproven, theory links the gesture to knights raising their visors.
Key Facts
1.In the British Army, the salute is given with the palm facing forward.
2.In the US military, the palm is angled down.
3.Salutes are typically given by the junior rank first.
YouTube Angle
Suggested video title for this topic:
"The Origin of the Military Salute"