PATRIOTISM PROTOCOL

By Dan Miller
November 2, 2007

I’m a patriotic guy, and I don’t want to sound like I’m not, in any way.

When "The Star-Spangled Banner" is played at a function or event, I always stand at attention.
If I’m wearing a hat, I’ll remove it, and I’ll offer a civilian salute, putting my hand over my heart.
When I was serving in the Army I would render a military salute when appropriate.
I always find a well performed version of the national anthem to be stirring and emotional.

But here’s something I don’t understand.
It happened just a few days ago as I was watching the final game of this year’s World Series on television from Denver.

During the 7th inning…. when fans normally take their 7th inning stretch…. the public address announcer asked everyone to stand and remove their hats for a performance of “God Bless America” by the country group LoneStar.
And everybody did it.
Everybody stood.
Hats came off.

A lot of people gave a civilian salute with their right hand over their heart.
And I caught glimpses of people in uniform rendering a military salute.

Now, “God Bless America” is a beautiful song.
Some have even suggested that it might be preferable to "The Star Spangled Banner" as our national anthem, since it’s not about “rockets red glare” and other war-related themes.
But, the fact is, it’s NOT our national anthem.
And the rules and customs that apply to the national anthem don’t apply to other songs.

Military guidelines are quite specific about protocol for saluting and not saluting.
On the list for saluting is, of course, the national anthem…. Taps…. and many other ceremonies and situations.
Not on the list is any reference to other songs about America.

To me, this trend of instructing people to display the exact same honor for songs other than the national anthem can only diminish the unique reverence we have for "The Star Spangled Banner."

Consider this question….. should the same gesture of respect be extended to all songs about our country?
Should we ask everyone to stand, remove their hats and salute Bruce Springsteen’s “Born In The USA"...?

How about James Brown’s “Living In America”…?

Waylon Jennings recorded a wonderful song titled “America”…. Should we stand and salute that song?
Do we remove our hats for Chuck Berry’s “Back In the USA”…?
Or, Woody Guthrie’s “This Land Is Your Land”…?
Or Paul Simon’s lovely “American Tune”...?

You get my point.

And I don’t mean to make light of this.
Our country’s national anthem should be held in high esteem like no other song…. with a special reverence in our hearts.

Don’t get me wrong…. if someone wants to stand and remove their hat for any song, that’s alright with me…. and that’s their privilege …. but they shouldn’t be told to do it.

Am I right?
OK, you can sit down now.

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