Not standing for the national anthem is just wrong.
There is simply no excuse, no reasoning that gives anyone license to disrespect the American Flag, the National Anthem; American soldiers, veterans, military families — the fallen and those still serving — and their families.
Professional athletes are viewed as role models to youth and young impressionable children. Teaching children to disrespect America, its laws, the American flag, the men and women who defend the freedom that all Americans enjoy, and the men and women who enforce America’s laws is not just irresponsible, it’s harmful on so many fronts.
We stand for the National Anthem, the Pledge of Allegiance to express honor for the American Flag not because of American’s past failures or the public dialogues over ongoing indecisions, indiscretions or controversies — but to honor the ideals contained in the U.S. Constitution and the Declaration of Independence. We stand to honor those who have given their lives so that others can live with freedom, safety, hope and opportunity. We stand to honor the men and women who were held by the bondage of slavery, yet persevered, and showed the world that they were equal in all manner to those who perpetrated evil against them. We stand to honor those men and women of the greatest generation whose shoulders we stand on in the freest and most prosperous nation history has ever known.
As a military veteran, what crosses my mind, when I see anyone showing disrespect for America, are the sacrifices my wife and children made during the 27 years I served in the military — the years I was away from home and in harm’s way. I think of the missed birthdays, the holidays, anniversaries, school and sporting events, and all the times when my wife needed her husband and my children needed their father. I see the faces of soldiers who died and the faces of Gold Star children, wives and mothers who will never see their Fallen Soldier again. I think of men who gave the best years of their lives and sacrificed their health to serve for a cause so much bigger than themselves. I see the strongest, most selfless, professional, and courageous people I have ever known and had the honor to serve with wearing the Army uniform. I think of the beauty of the Army where Soldiers are not judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character. I think of soldiers with shared values of duty, honor, integrity, personal courage, respect and selfless service. I think of soldiers who always put the mission first, who never accept defeat, who never quit, and who never leave a fallen comrade.
I pity any confused, privileged person who takes for granted the freedom we enjoy and the gift of that freedom that privileges us to live in the greatest nation the world has ever known.
The statement that “Freedom is not free” is not a cliché. It’s the truth. The words of the “Star Spangled Banner” written more than 200 years ago ring real and relevant for all of us today: “… Oh, say, does that Star-Spangled Banner yet wave, o’er the land of the free and the home of the brave.” My prayer is that our Star-Spangled Banner will always wave over this land, that America will always be free, and each one of us will aspire to be as honorable, as brave and courageous as those who have fought for our freedom, and still fight for it today.
My family and I will always honor our freedom, our country and our American Flag. We will always stand for the National Anthem for as long as we are physically able to and recite with reverence, our hands over our hearts, the Pledge of Allegiance. We pray that you will never become so dissuaded or distracted that, in confusion, you show dishonor, or act dishonorably.
Atlanta and America, we challenge you to stand with us.
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