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Heartwarming moment SGTMAJ gives daughter first salute
As another school year comes to an end, a new batch of cadets are being commissioned as Second Lieutenants. With this, comes the age-old-tradition of the first salute.
Usually this is rendered by a mentor, or instructor. However, Sergeant Major Mark A. Clark Jr got a rare treat when he was able to be his daughter’s first salute.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">This was by far more difficult than I imagined. Rendering my daughter her first salute was extremely emotional. Give them hell baby girl!! It's your time!! <a href="https://t.co/EmhlcFp4ge">pic.twitter.com/EmhlcFp4ge</a></p>— Army G-1 Senior Enlisted Leader (@g1_army) <a href="https://twitter.com/g1_army/status/1525701999576207362?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 15, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Sergeant Major Mark A. Clark Jr joined the Army over 20 years ago. Recently, he took to twitter to express his immense pride of his daughter.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">This was by far more difficult than I imagined. Rendering my daughter her first salute was extremely emotional. Give them hell baby girl!! It's your time!! <a href="https://t.co/EmhlcFp4ge">pic.twitter.com/EmhlcFp4ge</a></p>— Army G-1 Senior Enlisted Leader (@g1_army) <a href="https://twitter.com/g1_army/status/1525701999576207362?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 15, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
The military is heavily steeped with symbolism and tradition. Of this tradition, the Army states:
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Traditionally, newly-commissioned officers from all branches of service present a silver dollar to the first enlisted service member to render them a salute. While the origins of the tradition are unclear, some say it comes from the 19th century. The dollar should have some significance, like it was minted the year of the commissioning, it was minted the year the 2nd Lieutenant was born or it was minted 100 years prior to the ceremony.
Typical “first salutes” come from current or prior enlisted family or friends of the new officer, or among one of their commissioning source instructors. The presentation of the coin symbolically acknowledges the receipt of respect due the new lieutenant.
