Paying respect at sporting events? Should or should you not?

TSgt Scott Hurley — Fri, 31 Jan 2014 22:49:03 -0500

Recently, I went to an AHL Hockey Game. In front of where I was seated along with my sisters and one of my sisters boyfriends. Four teens did not stand when that announcement was made to please stand for the Flag (Had a town Police Honor Guard posting the Colors) and the National Anthem. My sister who is in the Air Guard said something to them. And they did not budge. Others around us, were not to thrilled with them either. I for one am not to thrilled with this generation of kids, but not standing for the National Anthem or paying Respect to the flag of the United States is not right. I know that when the Canadian Anthem is played, we Americans will still respect their flag. The Same for all other countries and anthems.

What say all of you?

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 31 at 2014 11:52 PM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 31 Jan 2014 23:52:12 -0500

I remember a basketball player in the NBA who did that and I think it Charles Barkley who called him out for that. Just crazy these days,

Response by SGM Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 31 at 2014 11:53 PM

SGM Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 31 Jan 2014 23:53:18 -0500

I must say I think your sister handled it better than I could have. I would have lost my mind and been all over them. A tongue lashing would have ensued and I would have not settled for anything less than standing and paying the proper respect.

I see it from another point of view - they were uneducated and were screaming to be taught one hell of a lesson.

Response by SSG V. Michelle Woods made Feb 1 at 2014 12:04 AM

SSG V. Michelle Woods — Sat, 01 Feb 2014 00:04:58 -0500

I say try pulling that off in TEXAS.

Just...try...

Response by 1SG Steven Stankovich made Feb 1 at 2014 3:39 AM

1SG Steven Stankovich — Sat, 01 Feb 2014 03:39:15 -0500

It really burns me up inside when people do not pay the proper respects to our flag, our National Anthem, or to our veterans and fallen service members. I believe that you sister handled the situation very well. The best thing to do, in my opinion, is an on the spot correction type of response with a little reason why this is important. If that doesn't work, then it is better for you to carry on. There is no need getting into a "pissing contest" with someone who does not understand the "bigger picture." You cannot spoon feed patriotism or national pride. Those things must be taught or they are learned through either personal or second hand experiences.

Response by CMC Robert Young made Feb 1 at 2014 8:43 AM

CMC Robert Young — Sat, 01 Feb 2014 08:43:30 -0500

Drive me crazy too! The sad fact is that it is ubiquitous. Every sporting event I've been to in the last decade has had some group of disrespectful knuckleheads who have no idea how fortunate they are to live in the greatest country to ever grace the planet....all products of the "your special generation" that have no commitment to anything but themselves.

I never miss an opportunity to straighten out my kids, and am fortunate that they seem to get it. Many of their friends however clearly do not even when somebody says something to them and sets the good example we should all set.

What has become of our country?

Response by CSM Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 1 at 2014 8:45 AM

CSM Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 01 Feb 2014 08:45:12 -0500

One of the many freedoms we enjoy as Americans is the freedom of choice, although probably not the best way to express that freedom to not stand and pay respect, is unfortunately still a freedom of choice and because of those freedoms "respect" given to such honors as our National Anthem are shrugged off more and more in our society. The only thing any of us can do is educate people on the importance of paying respect. Of course, a good old fashioned ass whooping works too! 

Response by Maj Walter Kilar made Feb 1 at 2014 9:07 AM

Maj Walter Kilar — Sat, 01 Feb 2014 09:07:44 -0500

Sadly, we cannot blame some of these kids for how they were raised. Before I started homeschooling my kids, they had been in schools where they did not and could not recite the Pledge of Allegiance, because it might offend the undocumented immigrants in the class. At school events, there was no National Anthem, no invocation, no Pledge of Allegiance. Imagine what that does to a generation of kids.

Response by 1SG Johnny Carter made Feb 1 at 2014 9:39 AM

1SG Johnny Carter — Sat, 01 Feb 2014 09:39:32 -0500

I wi say this, as Soldiers, veterans, and caring civilians we always render respect when it comes to the National Anthem or other Nations anthem! It truly pisses me off when I see people not do the same when it comes to our National Anthem because like you all I have spilled blood, lost battles in combat for our Country and to not Show respect boils my blood to the point of tears. BUT a friends father was there with me a, Veteran from Vietnam said I was an idiot to let that bother me. He said as a person they have those rights we fight for a chose to do what they want and that if only 1% of our nation fights then expect one 1% to honor! Anything over that is a bonus. I was like damn good point. So yes we fight for those rights that people use for them so at the end of the day if they chose not to show respect that's on them and as long as we show ours our fallen will ALWAYS be represented! So don't lose sleep over it. And with these kids now a days, don't blame them it the way they were brought up, just set the example always!!!

Response by SSgt Lonnie Montgomery made Feb 1 at 2014 11:14 AM

SSgt Lonnie Montgomery — Sat, 01 Feb 2014 11:14:13 -0500

Respect is no longer taught nor practiced in our schools. Adults that are in role model positions have failed these kids as well. So suggest to them when you can but always show them how it should be done for they probably have never seen it before. If you are active duty not in uniform or a veteran show the proper hand solute. They are indeed watching be a role model.

Response by SFC Jason Porter made Feb 1 at 2014 4:38 PM

SFC Jason Porter — Sat, 01 Feb 2014 16:38:32 -0500

Mmmm interesting maybe they are not taught is the only thing I can think of. I think it is important to tell them. But remember we are service members they are civilians we where taught to respect the flag and our country and most of us did prior to joining.

Response by SSG Oliver Mathews made Feb 1 at 2014 10:40 PM

SSG Oliver Mathews — Sat, 01 Feb 2014 22:40:59 -0500

Honestly... It is their choice vs your opinion. They could of had religious grounds. Some of the more strict religious believe that standing and saluting a flag or item is much to the same as worshiping a false idol. They could be rebelling and think they are Anarchists because "its cool".

At the end of the day. We serve so they can do that without fear of reprisal... You may be offended by it. But its a choice that you and i have defended.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 1 at 2014 11:06 PM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 01 Feb 2014 23:06:50 -0500

TSgt I say that as a member of the generation you're speaking ill against I am little offended. I agree that it is wrong to not pay respect to the flag. I always make it a point to render respect where it is due, especially in terms of the flag. However, I do not agree with your broad generalization against my age group. I apologize on their behalves for any bad experience you may have had with them but I don't think that fairly represents us as a whole. I hear complaints against my demographic quite often and it bothers me when I try to do my best to give us a better public image. My generation will have its issues with the following generation and so on so forth as I'm sure the generation before yours had their complaints. Sorry for the tirade TSgt! I meant no disrespect I just wanted to let you know that some of us aren't all bad.

Response by SPC Sara Harris made Feb 2 at 2014 8:34 AM

SPC Sara Harris — Sun, 02 Feb 2014 08:34:47 -0500

Their parents don't so respect either and have never taught them right. Also this is America you don't have to. Myself as an American, an a Veteran find it down right outrageous. Some kids now a days aren't raised to respect anything not even themselves, how to you expect them to respect anything. Times are changing for the worse not the better.

Response by Lt Col Luis A. Rojas made Feb 2 at 2014 4:01 PM

Lt Col Luis A. Rojas — Sun, 02 Feb 2014 16:01:32 -0500

The best children I've seen showing respect to the American Flag and our National Anthem are military children. I live on base in family housing and it is heartwarming to watch military children (of all ages) outdoors stop playing and paying their respects to the National Anthem when played on base everyday at 1700hrs.

Response by SSG Lisa Rendina made Feb 2 at 2014 6:30 PM

SSG Lisa Rendina — Sun, 02 Feb 2014 18:30:08 -0500

Not necessarily a direct response to your original question, but it pisses me off to no end to see professional sports players (such as the members of the Broncos and Seahawks organizations) make millions of dollars to play a game but cannot stand still and place their hand over their heart for one minute.

Response by CW3 Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 4 at 2014 6:43 AM

CW3 Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 04 Feb 2014 06:43:41 -0500

I don't understand why this is even a question. If I'm at a sporting event, and they play the National Anthem or post the colors, I am on my feet, and I am saluting. I don't care what others around me do, I'm going to be what right looks like. Let them take an example from me.

Response by SGM Chuck West made Feb 5 at 2014 7:41 AM

SGM Chuck West — Wed, 05 Feb 2014 07:41:42 -0500

I believe that the problem is we are no longer teaching our youth today that by paying respect to our Flag or by saying out loud the Pledge of Allegiance we are simply paying respect to what they stand for and for what hundreds of thousands of Americans have fought and died to preserve. The teenagers and young adults today look at their actions as a way of defiance against government and that comes from a lack of education on their part. Next time you see young kids sitting through the American Anthem, as hard as it is to do, educate them. Explain that we are celebrating the very rights that they are, without even knowing it, exercising. Not standing, or just as bad, standing yet talking through the National Anthem is simply showing your ignorance as to what this great country is all about. Yes I am damn proud to be an American.

I know this is going to sound cheesy as hell but let me quote a line from American President

"America isn't easy. America is advanced citizenship. You gotta want it bad, 'cause it's gonna put up a fight. It's gonna say "You want free speech? Let's see you acknowledge a man whose words make your blood boil, who's standing center stage and advocating at the top of his lungs that which you would spend a lifetime opposing at the top of yours. You want to claim this land as the land of the free? Then the symbol of your country can't just be a flag; the symbol also has to be one of its citizens exercising his right to burn that flag in protest. Show me that, defend that, celebrate that in your classrooms. Then, you can stand up and sing about the "land of the free"

The key sentence in the above quote is "celebrate that in your classrooms"...Government has taken it out of our classrooms - big government always creates more trouble.

Response by SFC William Swartz Jr made Apr 13 at 2014 10:38 AM

SFC William Swartz Jr — Sun, 13 Apr 2014 10:38:13 -0400

As much as it burns my ass when some punkassed individuals do not show the proper respect that the flag and national anthem deserve, they have the freedom to express themselves thusly.  Now, I have been guilty of something that others felt was disrespectful way back in either Jan or Feb '91..was at the Chief's Den on Ft. Carson, enlisted club back when we still had those on base for you youngsters, and at some point during the evening they played Lee Greenwood's "God Bless the USA", and myself and a couple other young SGTs did not jump to our feet like the group of self-appointed "Cowboy Mafia" at a table next to us did. Now by this time DS had been underway for a while and we SGTs were more or less sulking in our adult beverages because we "were stuck" at Ft. Carson as opposed to being with our brothers and sisters-in-arms in the Middle East. The young rednecks tried to enforce their particular brand of patriotism on us by running their soup coolers until the point where, after explaining that we had earned the right not to "HAVE" to stand during this song, we had to physically express to them how things worked. Luckily the MPs that showed up were kind enough to simply inform everyone to go their separate ways and for the "Cowboy Mafia" to police up their wounded and be very careful about not trying to impose their views on their "elders" again lol!!

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 13 at 2014 1:31 PM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 13 Apr 2014 13:31:27 -0400

Technical Sergeant, I believe the children should have been addressed, of course at the correct moment. Their actions only show the lack of education and disrespect when it comes to the sacrifices that has been made for our country. You can only do so much to show them the correct ways, but instances like these only build my motivation to show the world what my brothers and sisters in arms had to do for our country and to express why freedom is so precious.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made May 2 at 2014 10:11 AM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 02 May 2014 10:11:59 -0400

I am always on my feet during the National Anthem, Reveille, Retreat, or the passing of the colors, as are my kids and wife (we’re both retirees). I also raise and lower the colors at my house everyday (0600 and 1800, respectively); I don’t just leave them hanging and forget they’re there. I have also shown up at strangers’ houses with a new, crisp flag when theirs is tattered, and ask if I can properly retire their flag for them.

I am a father and husband first, and a soldier second, now and always. I and mine will always render the proper courtesies.

Response by MCPO Michael Korman made Aug 6 at 2014 12:35 AM

MCPO Michael Korman — Wed, 06 Aug 2014 00:35:09 -0400

So sad to see this. Funny thing happened to me the other day at the 2014 All Star Game. I was wearing my Navy Ballcap and when the National Anthem started I did what I usually do at games...I saluted. I am proud to do this but I heard someone behind me 'whisper' that I was still wearing my hat. Probably going to keep doing it!!

Response by PO2 Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 6 at 2014 2:10 PM

PO2 Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 06 Aug 2014 14:10:39 -0400

I will ALWAYS pay respect to the flag, and ALL VETS, and their families, past, present, and future!

Response by MCPO Michael Korman made Aug 6 at 2014 3:13 PM

MCPO Michael Korman — Wed, 06 Aug 2014 15:13:58 -0400

in 2007 Senator Jim Inhofe was able to get this bill passed!!

INHOFE LEGISLATION ALLOWS VETERANS TO SALUTE THE FLAG

Thursday, July 26, 2007

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) today praised the passage by unanimous consent of his bill (S.1877) clarifying U.S. law to allow veterans and servicemen not in uniform to salute the flag. Current law (US Code Title 4, Chapter

1) states that veterans and servicemen not in uniform should place their hand over their heart without clarifying whether they can or should salute the flag.

“The salute is a form of honor and respect, representing pride in one’s military service,” Senator Inhofe said. “Veterans and service members continue representing the military services even when not in uniform.

“Unfortunately, current U.S. law leaves confusion as to whether veterans and service members out of uniform can or should salute the flag. My legislation will clarify this regulation, allowing veterans and servicemen alike to salute the flag, whether they are in uniform or not.

“I look forward to seeing those who have served saluting proudly at baseball games, parades, and formal events. I believe this is an appropriate way to honor and recognize the 25 million veterans in the United States who have served in the military and remain as role models to others citizens. Those who are currently serving or have served in the military have earned this right, and their recognition will be an inspiration to others.”

###