By Staff
While attending a local game this week, the question, "what is the national anthem?" came up by a young athlete.
After the anthem was finished, this young athlete continued to ask, "why do we have to stand for it?" Which was again answered with a bunch of "I don't knows and because the president says so and if you don't you will get arrested."
I probably looked really funny laughing to myself, but I couldn't help it.
Another thing I noticed was that during the playing of our nathional anthem, there were about three people sitting. It didn't appear that any of them had any health problems which would have forced them to sit, since they were later seen walking around.
This is not the first time I have heard this question come up at a sporting event and it is definitely not the first time I have seen people sitting during the national anthem.
There is a law that states, "It is the moral duty of a person to stand in the attention position when the national anthem is played. But if they do not do so, then, prima facie, it is not a crime under the 1971 Act."
While it isn't a crime and people aren't forced to stand, it does show disrespect to the flag, to what the anthem stands for and to America.
Regardless of religious beliefs and what not, I was always taught from day one to stand during the playing of our anthem with my right hand over my heart. I don't even see that very much anymore.
Is this another one of those situations where over time we are forgetting more and more what we are standing for? It seems its meaning is fading over time and is just not that important.
To me, the national anthem represents a tough time in America, freedom, respect, a love for our country and that I am very fortunate to live in the land of the free and the home of the brave.
This is probably the only song that gives me chills when someone is singing their heart out before an event.
It also makes me giggle when little kids sing it and the poor things don't quite understand the words.
So, what is the national anthem? Fort McHenry is the birthplace of our national anthem. It was the valiant defense of Fort McHenry by American forces during the British attack on September 13, 1814 that inspired 35-year-old poet-lawyer Francis Scott Key to write the poem which was to become our national anthem, "The Star-Spangled Banner."
The poem was written to match the meter of the English song, "To Anacreon in Heaven." In 1931 the Congress of The United States of America enacted legislation that made "The Star-Spangled Banner" the official national anthem.
That's just a very short version of the actual story. You can look the full story up anywhere on the internet.
While I'm sure most people know the story behind the national anthem, there are still a lot that don't.
I didn't know the true meaning until I had to write a paper on it in my college history class. My professor was amazed to find out that not one person in class knew how the anthem originated.
I don't recall being taught about it in school, which may be the reason this little athlete was wondering what it was. Or maybe he hasn't reached that grade yet where they teach it.
Hopefully, someday he will find out the true meaning of our anthem and continue to stand proud as an American.
On another note, I want to wish Nikki Cooper the best of luck at Grand Rapids Community College. Today is her last day with Leader Publications.
I would also like to wish the Niles FOP 9-10 and 11-12 year-old All-Star teams good luck at the Little League state finals.