Each time that our high school athletic teams participate against an opponent, we take time to honor our flag, country, and national anthem.
Whether I am in the press box during football season, courtside at a basketball game, or standing out in the open for baseball, softball, track, etc. — I always stand and place my hand over my heart during the presentation of the colors and the playing of the Star-Spangled Banner.
It is something I have done beginning in a catholic kindergarten in Duncan, Oklahoma. When I began first grade, we were taught to recite the Pledge of Allegiance while putting our right hand over our heart. Each and every day, we did this from the first grade till I was a senior in high school.
Patriotism was engrained into our lives and only when I left home to live on a college campus did I see my patriotism challenged — due in part to the Vietnam War. I happen to believe that patriotism is something that should be taught in America at a very young age.
I was at the age where I could have been drafted to go to Vietnam. Going to college and making good grades allowed me to stay at home, though I had some high school classmates who served our country in Vietnam only to return home in body bags.
There was Bobby Frost and Patrick Robirds who gave their life for our freedom. Another classmate, Keith Werner, returned home severely wounded where he lived a short time and then died.
One of our Pearland elder statesman, who graduated from Pearland High School, approached me following the national anthem at a sporting event. He asked, “Do some of our adults and students not know how to honor our flag and national anthem?”
He went on to say, “I was taught to stop talking, take off your hat [if you were wearing one], place your hand over your heart, face the flag, and stand at attention at the playing of the national anthem. Where is the respect?
According to some research, here is the proper etiquette regarding our flag and national anthem.
The US Code (Titles 4 and 36) specifies four circumstances for rendering the hand-over-heart salute:
1. When the US flag is raised or lowered
2. When the US flag is carried past in a review or parade
3. When reciting the pledge of allegiance
4. When the national anthem is played
The saluter should face the flag in all cases. If the national anthem is played when the flag is not displayed, the saluter should face the source of the music.
Whether you agree or not, keep something in mind. There have been thousands of men and women who have given their lives so you and I could stand for a few moments and give respect to our nation’s flag and anthem. In essence — we are also giving respect to them and their sacrifice of dying for our freedom.
Sure, I know we have players in the NFL that kneel during the national anthem in protest of something. But consider this — 99.9 percent of them have never nor will they ever put on a military uniform and put their lives on the line for our freedom.
In past days — we had athletic heroes who exchanged their ball uniforms for military uniforms and went to war in service of our country…only to return to be sports heroes again. Ted Williams is one who immediately comes to mind.
The next time you attend an athletic event and they play the national anthem, please stop talking, take off your hat, stand at attention with your hand over your heart, say a prayer for the men and women who are serving our country in the military, and be reminded that our freedom has been paid for with the ultimate sacrifice — the life of a fellow American.
Old friend Robert said, “This country will not be a good place for any of us to live in unless we make it a good place for all of us to live in.”
E-mail: drdaviddavis@yahoo.com
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