National Anthem thoughts

I was standing at the Veterans Assembly last week at the high school during the National Anthem and found myself thinking of not only the 30-plus veterans on hand for the event that we were honoring but of other vets that lost their lives giving the ultimate sacrifice. I then thought of my grandfathers who served and how proud they both were to be Americans. I then thought of my uncles and some of the horrible things they had to go through in Vietnam and their return. I had to fight back the tears as I looked up at old glory and studied the red white and blue, as the singer hit the finale and the words sunk into my brain: “Land of the free and home of the brave.”

I spoke to a good friend of mine later about how the song means something way different to me today than it did when I was young. He also admitted that he could not help but get emotional these days at the song. He also thought of the same things I did but agreed he did not feel the same way either when he was younger. So that got me thinking. What exactly do our young people think of when that song is played before every sporting event or at a ceremony like this?

When I was younger I am sure I was more than likely just as disrespectful as some of the current generation is. Did the same things we frown on them for doing now. Talking, not standing up or not removing a hat during the song. They probably think of it as a bygone tradition that they don’t deem necessary or just a delay in what they really want to see. Others might even think it is a waste of their time. Some may have never even considered the importance of it at all. Never been taught the meaning behind the flag or never paid attention in class when it was taught. Well, I could never cover that here in this space allowed to me but I can tell you what flows through my mind every time I rise to attention and look the American flag in the eyes while a singer belts out the notes.

I always first think of those fighting for freedom, right now. Those who are in the trenches fighting, maybe not for our rights but for someone else’s. Someone who deserves the same freedom as we do. I then think of my Grandpa Utz, who in my mind may have been the most patriotic person I ever knew, followed closely by my Grandpa Nessly, who also served. I then think of my Uncle Buck and Chic, (yes, those are their real names) who served but in a different time and era and were looked down upon as they returned from service. I then think of Fred Long, a distant cousin of mine who served in WWII, who is maybe the most humble person I know when it comes to his service. I think of my wife, I think of many community members who not only served our country but returned home and continue to serve us.

But then I think of the ones who did not return. They died on foreign soil so I could live free here. They may have not even understood why they were there but gave their lives anyway. They died for me and for you. That may be something we have a hard time wrapping our heads around sometimes but never the less it is true. We may not even agree with the circumstance of war but that part is the key part. We have the right to agree or disagree because they died fighting for those very rights.

As I looked around the gym after the anthem was done, I saw heroes sitting in the chairs and standing in front of the flags. As I then scanned the crowd I knew that there were a few young ladies and men that would soon be putting on the colors of the United States Military in the next few years and they would be heroes too when they returned, if they returned. Fighting for the same freedom that my grandfathers did. The same freedom that Rich Black did, the same freedom that Arnie Holt did, and, yes, the same freedom for which our current forces fight.

How could you not be emotional looking at the stars and stripes with the beautiful voice of freedom singing our anthem? So, thank you to all the veterans who have served us all, no matter if you served a day or a lifetime. Thank you all, and God bless America.