[drdodge]

The United States Code, 36 USC Sec 301, says that during the playing of" The Star Spangled Banner" when the flag is displayed, everyone except those in uniform should stand at attention while facing the flag and have their right hand over their heart.
Individuals in attendance that aren't in uniform should remove anything they are wearing on their head and with their right hand and hold it at their left shoulder with their hand held over their heart.
Individuals in uniform should show the military salute during the first note of the anthem and stay in this position until the last note.
If the flag is not displayed, people in attendance should face the music and respond as if the flag were present.
I see many people who do not do this.

drd

[`willy]

I believe thats been changed. Veterans out of uniform can render a hand salute



Willy http://www.libnot.com/2007/09/10/fla...an-now-salute/

[drdodge]

ok

drd

[graciegirl]

I am from the old school. A patriot and ex girl scout leader and a product of my grade school teachers. Until I can no longer stand, I will put my hand over my heart when the national anthem is played and expect all gentlemen to remove their hats.

[Russ_Boston]

I went to a AAA baseball game in Pawtucket last night and the announcer said to stand and remove your caps for the playing of our national anthem. Most places don't ask you to remove your hats anymore but it is a nice reminder to the younger generation who wear hats everywhere it seems.

[Peachie]

Hats off to that announcer, that's a great idea for reminding the younger generation.

[smalldog]

The Villages Florida
Small Dog Sez I really don't understand why anyone would not remove their hat and Stand as they are able :dontknow: I also mouth the words to my self as our national anthem is played :
God Bless the USA .................. one nation under GOD

[billethkid]

When it comes to the US flag, the National Anthem and our troops, I am one to stand and be counted. If your near me and you don't remove your hat you can expect me to say something.
Attending my grand daughter's graduation this summer in Louisville, KY they played the National Anthem for the opening ceromony....there were way too many high school age kids in the stands with us that were either on the phone....sitting down....or playing their Ipod or a game....when I commented to them after the anthem was done they shrugged and asked me what I thought I was going to do about it. I said, OK if only I can get them to play it again.....then about four guys showed up behind me and said....yeah let's see if they will stay seated this time. The kids flipped us the bird and left.

I won't tar all the youth with the brush of disrespect because there are many that do the right thing. The problem is there are far too many that do not....and very comfortable with the fact that nobody will do/say anything.....all I can say is....DISGUSTING PUNKS!
(TO BE POLITE AND NOT GET CENSORED).

btk

[downeaster]

Times have changed.
When I was a kid we had a flagpole and the flag went up each morning and down and properly folded at sunset. It came down in the rain/snow and at half mast on Memorial Day. It was NOT one of our chores. We loved doing it.
Too many lives have been lost or ruined defending what that flag represents. It is one real way we can say thanks for those lives.
I am preaching to the choir aren't I?
So, what can we do about it. Do like the announcer in Pawtucket and remind people could be the first step. Teach our children and grandchildren, and in my case, great grand children. is another.
I find in some circles it is not cool to show respect for the flag. When in one of those circles stand up and declare your respect.
It pleases me to attend Villages functions and being able to join with fellow Americans standing and saluting during the playing the national anthem. Another plus living in The Villages.

DC

[Peachie]

And, Downeaster, my hubby is saddened when he can see a flag flying in the shadows with no illumination. He was always under the impression that if you fly the American flag at night there should be a light shining on it.

[swrinfla]

Once it became "acceptable," I have taken advantage of my former military status and now salute rather than place my hand over my heart, for the National Anthem as well as The Pledge of Allegiance.

I still get questionning glances from those around me, but I think most Villagers understand!

I was in Washington, DC, recently and visited our Memorials there. I was really upset at the lack of respect shown at all of them. Being more or less of an age that the WWII memorial was the most significant, I was most distressed that even younger adults did not show what I believe would be suitable respect.

There was slightly more reverence at the Vietnam Memorial, but I'd still call it inadequate!

Bottom line: the kids (i.e., any one under 50) today don't get taught about reverence!

SWR

[redwitch]

I have rarely touched my daughter as a punishment. However, we were at a ballgame and she (1) didn't stand as the national anthem was being played and got a thump on the head by me, (2) then she didn't remove her cap and it was grabbed and stuffed in my bag. There was a rather spirited discussion about proper demeanor after the game started. There was a much gentler and more involved discussion about why you behave in this manner when the anthem is played. I will say she has always stood, removed her cap and had her hand on her heart when the anthem was played from that time forward. It really isn't that hard to teach your child. And reminders by announcers certainly wouldn't hurt.

I have spoken up when people talked, etc. during the anthem. I simply tell them that considering many died so that we could hear that anthem and see that flag, the least they could do is stand quietly. That reminder has worked the majority of the time.

It really upsets me to see athletes be disrespectful when the anthem is played and the flag is raised -- they are role models and should act accordingly. I still remember when Tommie Smith and John Carlos raised a fist at the 1968 Mexico Olympics. It hurt to see it (even though I do have to give them credit that they did stand with bowed heads and did not talk or squirm as the anthem was played).

[drr47]

I agree and it makes me want to go and rip the hats off anyone, young or old, I guess we can't teach this in school anymore. One sporting event that is the exception is NASCAR, I don't watch the whole race but I do try and watch the first five minutes. When the announcer says, please rise and remove your hat for the National Anthem, and remain standing for the invocation. They Do....Then there is always a fly over.after that I don't watch much, but that opening is there every week...Watch it, very moving.

[Sidney Lanier]

We just returned from Oahu and a visit to the Arizona Memorial in Pearl Harbor. For those who've never been there, the National Park Service has a visitor center in which a film is shown, and from the theater the visitors are led to a boat that takes them to the actual Memorial in Pearl Harbor. Without making a big deal out of it or singling anyone or any group out, we were politely reminded that we were visiting essentially a tomb and to exercise appropriate demeanor. A quiet reminder, as with the baseball announcer in Pawtucket that Russ mentioned, is likely all that's necessary.

BTW, since the Pledge of Allegiance was mentioned in this thread, for those not familiar with its history, I quote the following:

--------------------------

In 1892 Francis Bellamy was ... a chairman of a committee of state superintendents of education in the National Education Association. As its chairman, he prepared the program for the public schools' quadricentennial celebration for Columbus Day in 1892. He structured this public school program around a flag raising ceremony and a flag salute - his 'Pledge of Allegiance.'

His original Pledge read as follows: 'I pledge allegiance to my Flag and (to*) the Republic for which it stands, one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.' He considered placing the word 'equality' in his Pledge, but knew that the state superintendents of education on his committee were against equality for women and African Americans. [*'to' added in October, 1892.]...

In 1923 and 1924 the National Flag Conference, under the 'leadership of the American Legion and the Daughters of the American Revolution,' changed the Pledge's words 'my Flag' to 'the Flag of the United States of America.' Bellamy disliked this change, but his protest was ignored.

In 1954, Congress, after a campaign by the Knights of Columbus, added the words 'under God' to the Pledge. The Pledge was now both a patriotic oath and a public prayer. [We were taught that this was a political change as well, to differentiate the United States from the "godless Reds" in the Soviet Union. I remember when this change was made, much to the confusion of both schoolchildren and adults.]

Bellamy's granddaughter said he also would have resented this second change. He had been pressured into leaving his church in 1891 because of his socialist sermons. In his retirement in Florida [!], he stopped attending church because he disliked the racial bigotry he found there.

----------------------------

Imagine that he was considered a socialist (in the 1890s!) because he was for 'equality for women and African Americans' and 'he disliked ... racial bigotry.' Interesting, eh?