Veterans and active-duty military not in uniform can now render the military-style hand salute during the playing of the national anthem, thanks to changes in federal law that took effect recently.

The military salute is a unique gesture of respect that marks those who have served in our nation’s armed forces, said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Dr. James B. Peake. This provision allows the application of that honor in all events involving our nation’s flag.

The new provision improves upon a little known change in federal law last year that authorized veterans to render the military-style hand salute during the raising, lowering or passing of the flag, but it did not address salutes during the national anthem. Last year’s provision also applied to members of the armed forces while not in uniform.

Traditionally, members of the nation’s veterans service organizations have rendered the hand-salute during the national anthem and at events involving the national flag while wearing their organization’s official head-gear.

The most recent change, authorizing hand-salutes during the national anthem by veterans and out-of-uniform military personnel, was sponsored by Sen. Jim Inhofe of Oklahoma, an Army veteran. It was included in the Defense Authorization Act of 2009, which President Bush signed on October 14, 2008.

The earlier provision authorizing hand-salutes for veterans and out-of-uniform military personnel during the raising, lowering or passing of the flag was contained in the National Defense Authorization Act of 2008, which took effect January 28, 2008.

Supervisor Don Knabe, Chair of the Children’s Council of Los Angeles County, announced the findings of the 2008 Children’s ScoreCard at a press conference recently on the 8th floor of the Hall of Administration.

The data in the 2008 ScoreCard – which reviews information from 2006 as a baseline for assessing more current data – highlights the condition of children and families in a number of areas. While it shares institutional data on children involved in foster care, welfare and juvenile justice, it also attempts to shed light on overall health and educational trends. Generally, the findings indicate positive outcomes in the areas of early care and education, particularly for children ages 0-5. There are positive indicators relating to prenatal care, birth weight and immunization, and less children born to teen mothers. An increased number of children across the County attended story time at public libraries and have health insurance.

Outcomes for children in middle school and high school are less encouraging. While the number of youth homicide victims continues to diminish, there are still an increasing number of misdemeanor and felony offenses. High school graduation rates dropped slightly, and child obesity for children in middle school has gone up slightly.

"Our investments in children aged 0-5 appear to be paying off," said Supervisor Knabe. "I am confident that we will see those trends continue. However, it is clear that we have work to do with our older children. The trends the ScoreCard points out truly underscore our need to focus on children in those critical years, particularly those at highest risk. I am also concerned about the trends pointing to increasing amounts of homeless families and decreased access to child care."

Supervisor Knabe discussed how the faltering economy and the state budget crisis will have an additional adverse impact on families and the systems in place that serve them. Other speakers included, Dr. Sharon Watson, Executive Director of the Children’s Council of Los Angeles County, Dr. Jacquelyn McCroskey of the USC School of Social Work, and Armando Jimenez of First 5 Los Angeles.

The Children’s Council brings together the leaders of county government, cities, schools and the various communities of Los Angeles County to improve outcomes for children and families. Throughout its 17 years, the Council has successfully underscored the importance of using data to drive the planning needed to make conditions better for children. The biannual ScoreCard is one of the most important tools in this effort. It captures data that assesses the overall condition of the County’s 2.8 million children and youth for use in guiding, planning and tracking the impact of services.

To view the full 2008 Children’s ScoreCard visit the Children’s Council website at http://thechildrenscouncil.net

In honor of her decades of community service and upcoming retirement, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved renaming Admiralty Park in Marina del Rey as Yvonne B. Burke Park.

The name change, proposed by Supervisor Don Knabe, honors Supervisor Burke’s 16 years of service representing the Second District. In his proposal, Supervisor Knabe also cited Supervisor Burke’s many firsts, including becoming the first African-American elected to the Board, and devoting her entire professional life to public service, whether as an elected official, an attorney, or as an official of the U.S. Olympics Organizing Committee.

Today’s motion is actually the second proposal to name Admiralty Park after Supervisor Burke. During her original appointment to the Board of Supervisors in 1979, representing the Fourth District, she was instrumental in advancing the development of a park running along Admiralty Way in Marina del Rey. With park construction completed just after she left office the first time, the Board of Supervisors approved naming it the Yvonne Brathwaite Burke Park.

However, soon after, a recommendation was made to honor her service by renaming of the Health Services’ West District office to the Yvonne Brathwaite Burke Health Center. Determining that this was a more fitting tribute to Supervisor Burke due to her interest and work in the health field, the Board of Supervisors adopted this subsequent recommendation and rescinded its earlier order, instead naming the Marina del Rey Park as Admiralty Park.

Supervisor Burke has a deep personal attachment and commitment to Marina del Rey dating back nearly 30 years, said Supervisor Knabe. I am proud to honor my colleague and my friend by finally and permanently renaming this park with the name it should rightfully have.

A photo gallery featuring dramatic scenic shots of Los Angeles County is officially open at the Kenneth Hahn Hall of Administration. The exhibit was formally unveiled recently at a brief ceremony conducted by Supervisor Don Knabe.

The photos by local photographer Stephen Coleman are in the hallway of the Third Floor of the county government headquarters, located at 500 West Temple Street in downtown Los Angeles. The gallery, which is the first of its kind at the Hall of Administration, is planned to be a permanent exhibit of local works highlighting the County. Coleman has agreed to loan 22 photos to the County for a year. The photos include ocean, desert, mountain and city scenes.

The gallery was created at the suggestion of Supervisor Knabe, who met Coleman as a television news cameraman and was impressed with his photographs. Stephen’s work is stunning and captures the beauty and diversity of our great county. The composition, colors, and angles of the photos are just incredible, said Supervisor Knabe.

Coleman said his love of photography began in high school when a teacher loaned him a camera. I fell in love with the joy of experiencing the world and capturing the world’s beauty and essence through the art of photography.