Sporting events, ceremonies and parades all start the same way—with the National Anthem. It’s the song every American knows every word to. No matter how many tragic events happen in the world, it is the song that unites us as a nation.
I work at a baseball stadium. Every time the National Anthem starts, I look around to see many people, fans and employees that stop what they are doing to stand and honor our flag. People close their eyes and quietly sing along. Others put their hands on their hearts and set their eyes on the flag. Veterans place their hands on their heads to salute the flag. It’s a sight that gives me goosebumps.
However, I look around at other times and I am thoroughly disappointed.
A few weeks ago, two groups of camp students were visiting the stadium and sat at the tables in front of the stand I work in. As the Star Spangled Banner played, the camp counselors spoke and the children continued to sit. Sometimes, I watch parents talk to their children and continue to let them run around during the anthem. Significant adults in these children’s lives neglect to teach them the correct behavior during the anthem.
How are future generations going to learn to respect the flag and the country if they are not taught now?
The camp students that I mentioned before eventually stood up for the National Anthem after another employee asked them to stand up. The children continued to eat their food and talk but they are not to blame in this scenario. If the significant adults in their lives do not teach them the right way to behave, how can we expect them to know better?
When I was in elementary school, our music teacher taught every single class all of the words to the National Anthem as well as the history behind the song. In the beginning of each class, we sang the Star Spangled Banner so that we could all stand up, put our hands on our hearts and sing the anthem when it was time for assemblies. However, when middle school choir started to sing the song of our nation at the 9/11 Memorial in April, they were asked to stop because they had not paid the $35 permission fee. What are we teaching kids when something like this happens?
We are sending the message that respect to the country is not important.
We are sending the message that our freedom is not valued.
We are sending the message that we should not be proud to be American.
We are failing them.
It is my hope that someday, children will learn the importance of standing for the National Anthem. It is our job to teach them this. Next time you see a child sitting during the Star Spangled Banner, ask them to stand up. I hope one day, those kids will be able to look around a stadium, see all the people standing, and feel the same way I feel. I hope they feel the unity and the pride that our National Anthem should bring to them.
