The salute is a gesture of respect, homage, or polite recognition or acknowledgment, especially one made to or by a person when arriving or departing. Most commonly used by the armed forces, it can show support or respect for a cause or person. Not only is it used by every generation, it is a timeless gesture and is recognizable all around the world as a sign American pride and of our armed forces. 
Our government spends billions upon billions of our tax dollars on our defense corps. Some agree with spending such a vast amount of our resources on a partially obsolete entity, some disagree and think it is completely obsolete. There is no argument, however, that in the past the armed forces have done for us what nothing else could have. They fight for their lives on the daily, they at least deserve the respect of having an emoji to show their patriotism. 
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