Grumpy Old Ganz

Stand or Kneel?

A few years ago while I was waiting for a softball game to start I saw another baseball team practicing nearby. The National Anthem began to play. Those that could stood and placed a hand over their heart, and yet kids very capable of standing still and old enough to know better were running around, paying no attention to the song. What I found to be quite sad is that the parents of those kids never said anything or made any motion to explain to these kids the importance of pausing their activity to stand quietly to show respect and honor for our flag.

As the National Anthem concluded, I looked over at the practicing team and they had discontinued their workout and faced the flag. At the end of the game, I went over to the team’s coach and thanked him and also thanked the athletic director of that school.

I have been to other venues where teams were warming up and they simply ignored our anthem, The Star-Spangled Banner when it was played.

With all that’s happening in our country now, in my opinion, many have forgotten the meaning of our flag and what it represents. Many are serving our country now and many have served our country in the past and fought and died to give you freedoms that date back a few hundred years.

You have the right to agree or disagree with what’s going on in our country now. You also have the right and freedom to protest/assemble in a peaceful fashion to support a cause. But to disregard where those freedoms came from and to disrespect the flag or the National Anthem is extraneous.

The American flag’s colors and stripes incorporate a lot of meaning. There are 13 stripes representing the 13 colonies. White signifies purity and innocence; red, hardiness and valor; blue, vigilance, perseverance, and justice.

I was simply taught honor, courage, and loyalty. Regardless of which words you use, don’t use the American Flag or the National Anthem as a platform for your “cause”.

“I stand for the National Anthem and kneel for the fallen!”

Please don’t disrespect those who are living or dead who serve/served our country so that you may enjoy the freedoms you have today.