Instead of asking a celebrity to perform the National Anthem, the gathered crowd would actually sing it. Recite the pledge to begin each school day. In my humble, Midwestern, middle-of-the-road opinion, I think our country could use a good dose of Social Studies 101. A few weeks later, it all goes to the wayside. Yet, when challenged and accosted by horrific acts of violence, we glob on to the National Anthem, fly the flag and sport red, white and blue to make us feel better. The urgency to raise our voices, remove our caps and make a big deal over the U.S.
In late 90s, things were decent in the land of the free and the home of the brave.
I’ve puzzled on that morning often wondering why so few people stood and have concluded it was a sign of the times. Just a handful of people had stood to show their respect. Those who were perched curbside or in lawn chairs remained seated, chatting away, ball caps firmly in place, oblivious to the flag swaying in the breeze. With protest, I struggled to regain my footing and glanced around. This American Legion troop symbolizes so many marching down Main Street in Anytown, USA.Ī hand grabbed my shirt, pulling me down. It’s what we did back home when an American flag was presented during our small town’s annual Depot Days’ parade.
Leading the parade, marched the University’s ROTC unit in full uniform carrying the American flag. The big game to come, a week’s worth of parties and campus activity behind us. The sidewalks were crowded with alumni, students, professors, and community members. The trees in some communities are still wrapped in yellow ribbon.īut it wasn’t so long ago (okay, maybe several years) that I sat on a curb in Kirksville, Missouri for the homecoming parade at Truman State University. I am proud of my country and I will not be bullied.” Staging parades and rallies to either send our troops to war or welcome them home became monthly occurrences. It was the only way to say, “I am American. Singing, chanting and being hyper-sensitive to the display and care of the nation’s symbols, for many of us was the only way to contribute. Following Monday’s Boston Marathon bombing, singing and chanting seemed to be the right thing to do the right way to unify our collective voices in anger and sadness the right way to tell the people who did this that we Americans cannot be knocked down. At the Boston Bruins / Buffalo Sabres hockey game, the crowd enthusiastically sang the National Anthem ending with a resounding “U-S-A” chant that came from the gut.
Josh Flint used it as his “Play of the Day”. Yesterday a video started making the rounds.
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