Salud/Salut!

Lendale White probably scored a point or two in the hearts of servicemen and women when he made a classic gesture after his touchdown in a Denver Broncos preseason game. (See photo below.) A salute is a common sign of respect among military personnel.

“Salute” comes from a Latin word that meant greeting or health. From it, we get “salutation,” the greeting of a letter (Dear Sir, for example). We also get “salutary,” meaning healthful, and two favorites of mine, "salut" (French) or "salud" (Spanish). They both mean “to your health,” a common phrase during a toast.

With a 34-17 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers, it seems that the Broncos’ season is off to a healthy start. Now that’s worth a toast or two.