Hats and Funerals

[hatophile]

Absolutely! But the French soldier near the upper left corner carries his kepi over his heart - which shows, it's not as such a French (or European) issue

Maybe it's different for "heads" of state?

 

[TheDane]

Nahhh ... I may spot a small, bad mannered Danish minority, though

I can spot only one, wearing what could be a Danish uniform from the time. The officer 5 places left of de Gaulle seems to be wearing a Danish M59 uniform. M59 was introduced in 1959 and replaced with M69 in 1969, which would make M59 the correct uniform at the time of JFK's funeral. He's also wearing a cap, which would not be seen as proper in Denmark - and I'm quite sure it's against Danish military regulations.

 

[TheDane]

Maybe it's different for "heads" of state?

It may be(?) And it may be different from country to country too(?)

 

[carouselvic]

During Taps

 

[TheDane]

During Taps

Yup, rules do seem inconsistent! Btw, just checked - at Danish military funerals the pall bearers are always bare-headed.

 

[skydog757]

A picture is worth a thousand words.

View attachment 13848

To me, it appears that they are in the process folding the flag, which would be a moment when hat removal would be expected. As to the dignitaries, if it is not the flag of your country, you may be excused or forgiven for your lack of knowledge or difference of custom.

 

[TheDane]

As to the dignitaries, if it is not the flag of your country, you may be excused or forgiven for your lack of knowledge or difference of custom.

If dignitaries with a paid staff of advicers may be excused for disrespecting Stars and Stripes at the funeral of an American president, I can't help wondering, who should respect a flag - and when? [huh]

 

[Slacker Drummer]

To me, it appears that they are in the process folding the flag, which would be a moment when hat removal would be expected. As to the dignitaries, if it is not the flag of your country, you may be excused or forgiven for your lack of knowledge or difference of custom.

When civilians might take off their hats for the flag (as in taps, here), the foreign officers are saluting the flag. You can see some civilians have placed their hats over their hearts as well. When the civilians would take off their hats for prayer, the foreign officers do, too. Standard operating procedure for funerals for civilians -- hats off.

 

[TheDane]

The original photograph I posted shows standard operating procedure for funerals -- hats off.

Nope! The original picture clearly shows military hats on and off ... no standard procedure there.

 

[mayserwegener]

In the first photo (During Taps) I see some military (front left) with their hats off. The ones that have them on (throughout the photo) appear to be saluting (excluding the ones holding the coffin).

 

[Slacker Drummer]

Nope! The original picture clearly shows military hats on and off ... no standard procedure there.

You must have been typing your reply while I was editing my post to clarify. Civilian.

 

[-30-]

THE REST of THE STORY:

"When attending JFK’s funeral as president, he was not entirely satisfied with the seating arrangements, having been placed in the eighth row:
Resolutely, he marched to the front and told the head of protocol “Right. We can start,” and sat down there and then."

Jonathan Fenby’s book, The General: Charles de Gaulle and the France He Saved.


Regards,
J T

 

[CliffG]

I got off work early today and was walking down the street to my car, I saw a funeral procession motoring along towards me, I stopped and took off my had while they passed by keeping my head lower in respect. After they passed I put my hat back on and went on my way.
I was taught as early as I remember that is what you do to show respect, my dad told me his dad always would pull over and even stop the car and everyone got out and took off their hat until the procession passed.
I was thinking about this practice, is it just something my family did and I continue to do or is it more common and I just do not notice anyone doing it?

 

[Woodtroll]

I got off work early today and was walking down the street to my car, I saw a funeral procession motoring along towards me, I stopped and took off my had while they passed by keeping my head lower in respect. After they passed I put my hat back on and went on my way.
I was taught as early as I remember that is what you do to show respect, my dad told me his dad always would pull over and even stop the car and everyone got out and took off their hat until the procession passed.
I was thinking about this practice, is it just something my family did and I continue to do or is it more common and I just do not notice anyone doing it?

This was a common courtesy and show of respect when I was growing up too, and the "older" folks here still practice it when they can (it's not as easy to pull off the road and get out for the procession anymore, with today's cars, roads, and traffic). And yes, I am one of the "older folks" these days. But many of our younger folks don't observe "our" common courtesies even in the country anymore. Everyone used to wave at approaching cars by lifting a few fingers off the wheel, but even that little gesture has almost passed with time. I applaud you for showing your respect!

 

[Frunobulax]

I don't think I remember anyone pulling over for a funeral procession, but I would certainly doff my hat if I were walking. I have a habit, taken from my mother, to cross myself when seeing a funeral procession. She would also cross herself whenever passing a church.

People wave at me all the time in my car by taking a "few" fingers off the wheel. One is a few, right?

 

[Hurricane Jack]

I got off work early today and was walking down the street to my car, I saw a funeral procession motoring along towards me, I stopped and took off my had while they passed by keeping my head lower in respect. After they passed I put my hat back on and went on my way.
I was taught as early as I remember that is what you do to show respect, my dad told me his dad always would pull over and even stop the car and everyone got out and took off their hat until the procession passed.
I was thinking about this practice, is it just something my family did and I continue to do or is it more common and I just do not notice anyone doing it?

When two lane highways were the norm rather than the exception a lot of states had laws on the books where you pulled over in both directions for a funeral procession. Four lane highways make it harder to do that & so the law became forgotten over time. Most have probably been deleted from the books by now.

 

[Hurricane Jack]

People wave at me all the time in my car by taking a "few" fingers off the wheel. One is a few, right?

I just learned the other day that the road rage gene is in our DNA & therefore hereditary.

 

[BobHufford]

I pulled over a little for a procession on a two-lane road last year and was immediately honked and yelled at by motorists behind me. I paid them no attention and moved back over when the procession had passed.

 

[Cornshucker77]

I just learned the other day that the road rage gene is in our DNA & therefore hereditary.

View attachment 154536

LOL!!!!!

 

[AbbaDatDeHat]

I don't think I remember anyone pulling over for a funeral procession, but I would certainly doff my hat if I were walking. I have a habit, taken from my mother, to cross myself when seeing a funeral procession. She would also cross herself whenever passing a church.

People wave at me all the time in my car by taking a "few" fingers off the wheel. One is a few, right?

Ha ha Fruno
Here in WV folks are very friendly. They raise the one off both hands to wave.
I’m always so honored!
B
Ps: and if a funeral procession goes by, if at all possible, stop everything, even talking, out of respect as if it were your Mother passing by one last time.