I Stand for The Flag

At 0800, I jumped out and down from my big diesel redneck rig. As soon as my feet hit the pavement, I hear 'morning colors' start to play in the distance. I immediately turn smartly to the direction the music is coming from and stand quietly at attention while paying my respects to the Flag and National Anthem. It's been a while since I've had to render this required military custom. I have been retired from the U.S. Navy for over 3 years now, and just over a year ago, I took a position as a senior Manpower, Personnel, and Training (MPT) analyst for the Navy, which brought me back to the Ventura, CA naval base I retired from in June of 2021 after a 24 year career. Even though my work has me back on a military installation, I normally miss the daily ritual of our colors being raised smartly to our national anthem, because I usually began my day in the office at 0700. However, on this Friday I wanted to spend an extra 30 minutes with Kai, my 13 month old Golden Retriever, at the park during our morning walk.

My late start today allowed me the opportunity to partake in something I haven't had to do since I took off the Uniform. I had always felt a great sense of pride rendering my respect during colors, while on active duty. That feeling still remained and left me feeling a bit of nostalgia as I stood with my head high in the warm morning sun, listening to our anthem being carried off majestically by the gentle breeze. Not long after I enjoyed my morning walk down military memory lane, the ever watchful eye and listening ear of social media pushed an unsolicited meme from a budding social warrior podcaster into my feed.

The unknown to me, self proclaimed philosopher, critic of wealth and power, voice for the voiceless, and podcaster with a meager 950 followers; somehow his meme found its way to my attention. I actually took the time to read all the comments made to this guy's proclamation, made by a facetious statement, against standing for the National Anthem. At only 13 comments at the time, it didn't take me very long. I then briefly reviewed some of his other content, to get a bearing on the sociopolitical ideology of the man whose beliefs in pictures showed up on my digital doorstep. Needless to say, I won't be subscribing to or following this guy. However, the flag and anthem meme really interested me, as well as the responses it elicited.

Most of the people replying were in various levels of outrage, from the more tame remarks such as, "Did an American write this", "How dare it not be mandatory", "U don't stand for the Anthem" and "I love the National Anthem before ball games" to harsher statements of "I'd punch you if I saw you not standing", "You should leave this country if you don't respect it" and finally the one that really struck me "you should be knocked out for disrespecting our military". As a retired Navy Chief, who has a great deal of pride in our National Anthem and Ensign, I feel as though I have a responsibility, if not duty, to speak on the matter of a requirement to stand for our national anthem, and whether or not it's disrespectful if one doesn't.

In 2010 my son and I were at a Lakers game at the Staples Center. We were sitting 5 rows back from center court, when the National Anthem was performed by a local artist, my son and I both stood up, placed our right hands over our hearts and proudly paid our respects. I noticed two rows down in front of us, a man sitting and stuffing his face with chicken fingers, also many people, even though standing, talked and fidgeted; to include the athletes on the court. But none really peeved me like that overweight bald-man eating his food while our Nation's Song was being sung. In that moment on that day, I felt the feelings that probably fueled those social media comments made today in response to the meme refuting a requirement to stand during the National Anthem. I believed a person with what I assumed, because of how close he was sitting to the court, to have a great deal of money and maturity should know better and not only stand for the National Anthem, but stop eating as well.

That moment and event really bothered me for a while. I spent a lot of time critically analyzing my feelings and questioning my beliefs regarding the National Anthem and our flag and if it should be a generally understood norm that all people must stand for the National Anthem. Then I began to understand the situation more objectively rather than subjectively from my position in life as an active duty military member. I asked myself, "what if that guy wasn't an American, should he be required to stand","would he then feel obligated to stand",or "What if he was handicapped and had a hard time standing" I realized that there could be circumstances unknown to me as to why someone may not stand; however, eating the food was much harder to dismiss. That's when I had the real epiphany.

There is no requirement or law for citizens to stand, and to believe there should be one or it must be mandatory, goes directly against a free and democratic society. I as a member of the military have the requirement to stand during the National Anthem, representing my countrymen that have gone before me, and the citizens I currently defend. It's our sworn duty in the military to pay respect when the National Anthem is played and our National Ensign is paraded. The Constitution gives those we protect the option, and it doesn't mean they hate America or are disrespecting the military if they don't stand. To believe that we must all pay respect to the flag and anthem when it's presented, mostly at entertainment venues, diminishes what the U.S. Flag represents. Our national anthem and parading of our national ensign should be reserved for official government and military ceremonies, and international events, such as the Olympics. using it as a prop for a prelude to our entertainment, only opens up an environment for the argument of what is and is not respectful to exist.

In October of 2016 I attended a country music festival. During the very early part of the first day, the National Anthem was performed by a band on stage as a giant American Flag was raised behind them. With my right hand I removed my hat, placed it over my heart, and stood proudly at attention for the entirety of the Anthem. Meanwhile a good majority of the audience went wild, hollering, and dancing around; cheering loudly throughout. Were these festival goers respecting the flag and anthem? Is drinking and celebrating while our flag is being raised to our national anthem respectful? Just a month earlier Colin Kaepernick began kneeling during the National Anthem, prior to NFL games. To be objectively honest, it's very safe to believe that the patrons of a country music festival fell on the side of the issue, that believed Kaepernick was being disrespectful for kneeling and not standing for our national anthem.

I understand that these are two different types of venues, but the National Anthem and the Flag are always the same, and rendering how respect is given to each does not change no matter where they take place or how they are presented, and that is why it's not mandatory for citizens to show the Flag and Anthem the same manner of respect and attention as we servicemembers are required to render unto them. It's great if private citizens do, but it doesn't mean that they are more, or a better American for doing so. Likewise Americans also have the right to dance and celebrate during the anthem just as much as they have the right to show solemn disappointment. Now this doesn't mean that I disagree with how the NFL treated Kaepernick. The NFL as a business organization just as any business has the right to feel secure with its employees and have trust that its members have the organization's best interests in mind. I believe Kaepernick did not give the NFL that feeling. However, I also believe Kaepernick did not disrespect our anthem, flag, or military. He was only standing up (kneeling) for what he believed in. Isn't that an American virtue, standing up for what we believe is right, no matter what the cost; and that is what our anthem and flag represent.

In a free and democratic society, it's we the military that take the duty of paying respect to our national ensign and anthem, so private citizens don't have to, they are free to choose whether or not they do so. The same military members fight to protect their freedom to choose, and therefore should not be the ones who condemn or criticize citizens when they exercise their freedoms, furthermore we should be the ones who speak up and defend our citizens when they are criticized for how they demonstrate their freedoms. I take great honor in the respect I am required to demonstrate towards our anthem and flag; however, I understand that all Americans are not required to believe and behave like me. I proudly stand for the flag and anthem so my fellow Americans have the right to choose.