When I took my granddaughter to her first ballgame she was probably a year old. But nevertheless when the National Anthem was sung I put her little hand over her heart and told her to be very quiet. Although she had no idea what she was doing – every game after that her Mommy and I followed the same suit and at 2½ she does it as soon as the music starts. Now she probably doesn’t know still why she does that, but it has been instilled in her that this is what you “should do”. I did the same with my children and they weren’t much older than my granddaughter when that song rendered the same reaction to them.
I stand at ballgames now and I watch these kids that are teenagers who stand and giggle and are completely oblivious to what they meaning of that song is and the sacrifices are that were made because of what that song stands for. I blame the parents for that, for the fact that they had no more respect for the countless lives lost protecting this country than to take a moment and instill in their children the reverence that should be allowed when we stand to our feet and face that flag.
When Francis Scott Key wrote the National Anthem it was during the Battle of Baltimore at Fort McHenry. The enemy was determined to bring down the flag that stood there representing America. They bombed the area repeatedly and Mr. Key couldn’t comprehend how in the world that the flag pole supporting that flag remained standing through all of that. After it was over and there were only remnants of buildings left he journeyed to where the flag pole stood. When he walked inside what was left of the building it was then that he saw countless soldier’s bodies surrounding the flag pole and giving it the strength to stand as the enemy tried to take it down…and failed. It was then that he went and wrote our National Anthem.
So when I see grown adults and children (the age to know better) not standing there in reverence when that song is sung I get so upset. I have been to hundreds and hundreds of events where that song was sung. EVERY time my eyes fill with tears and my heart wants to burst with pride, because I know what that song means; I know what that flag stands for and I know how many lives were lost because of it.
What really saddens me the most is that in this melting pot of a country that we live in, that has so many different nationalities living here together, I will often see someone who came here for a better life paying more attention and giving more respect during the National Anthem than the man or woman standing beside them that has lived here their whole life. I can’t help but wonder where along the way that some Americans quit being proud of the Flag and what it means.
My greatest passions are my Lord, my family and America. I feel a distinct honor and privilege to be cloaked under that Flag, because it represents something about each of those passions; and I will always be thankful for the Veterans who have protected her through the years and those that unselfishly gave their lives because of their passion to stand up for what that flag stands for.
So not just today – on their special day – but every chance you get – when you see a Veteran thank him or her. Let them know that you appreciate what they have done. And the next time you are somewhere that the National Anthem is being played and that Flag is being saluted – remember that the man or woman standing next to you may very well be one of those that lost someone fighting for you to stand there and listen – or perhaps even fought themselves. Let them know that it wasn’t in vain.