No my mother does not expect a salute from a civilian worker on a military base/station. The civilian essentially showed lack of concern for customs/courtesy within the military even after working as a civilian for ~30 years. She should know better and/or chose her words more correctly. My mother has been out of uniform for 20 years. Shes old and salty. She gave a lot serving our nation and if one of the few last perks she enjoys is a salute now and then when entering a military post I don't see the big deal. Fortunately Marine bases still issue DOD vehicle decals. I guarantee you if and when the Corps does not issue DOD decals there would be a crisp honor rendered upon an ID check. Guess we're wired differently.
Maybe in the Corps custom/courtesy is stressed more than other branches. My mother and I were put off by the attitude from the civie worker. She was disdainful and blatenly lacked respect of those who have served. My time in the military was brief. I don't think I am any different than other American because I wore the uniform. I do have respect for all who have worn the uniform honorably, especially those who did 20 plus years, enlisted or commissoned.
As far as it not really meaning anything in the grand scheme I guess the military and country should forego any respect to our flag as well. Whats the big deal with morning and evening colors? Eh, screw it right?
I see more and more of this at sporting events and other public gatherings where children aren't taught proper etiquette in respect to the colors and national anthem.
So, if I understand you correctly, here's what happened: You and your mom drove to the Los Angeles AFB. She showed her retired O-5 ID card at the guard gate; this guard failed to salue her. Then you two went to the decal office where you came across a civilian employee. Your mom mentioned this fact to the civilian who then gave your mom an attitude about it.
Did you notice whether or not the gate guards were military or civilian? I'm frequently not saluted at Lackland because most of the guards are contractors; they're not required to salute and generally don't. Every now and then it'll be an active duty security policeman, and they salute every time without fail.
Again, I wasn't there so all I have to go by is your posts. But if it was a military SP who let you on the base without saluting, then perhaps the person to raise the issue with would be this individual and/or his supervisor, not a civil servant who has nothing to do with base security operations or protocol. I'm sorry to hear the civilian employee at the decal office doesn't care about military customs and courtesies, but they're entitled to their opinion (as sad as it might be) since they're not subject to the provisions of the UCMJ, and frankly I'm not surprised--many of these people aren't exactly the creme of the crop. If she was
rude to you or provided poor customer service, then again address the matter to her and/or her supervisor.
I'm not advocating we stop rendering the proper respects to the flag; I think it's sad that people don't know how to behave properly at sporting events, etc. But some people, we can hold accountable through the UCMJ (military); others we can't hold to the same standard (civilians). Too bad they're sometimes seen as representing our values, but as the cliche goes, a federal civil service employee is like a rocket. If it don't work, you can't fire it.
In the Air Force, we do take these things seriously, and courtesy/respect among military members and especially with respect to the sister services is of paramount importantance (although I can't say we're as rigid as the USMC because that's unlikely the case), but you have to differentiate between those who wear the uniform and those who don't wear the uniform. Your original post was about a lack of respect in the military.