First salute as a commission officer went to Gunnery Sergeant Jim Washington, USMC, my Aviation Officer Candidate drill instructor on 22 Feb, 1985. As was the time-honored tradition, I gave him a silver dollar. 25 years later, as I left Norfolk Naval Station on my last day of duty, and while still in uniform, I had picked up a silver dollar from the bank that morning and as I stopped for gas on the base service station, I gave it to the service member who gave me my last salute I’d receive while in uniform. Somehow it seemed fitting.
Former U.S. Naval Flight Officer, now retired from Gub’mint work living the life in the mountains of western North Carolina. Had my fill of watching the sausage made in DC in 2018.