I know the words to the first verse of our National Anthem having been taught them in grade school, along with all the patriotic songs and military theme songs.  I like to sing them.  Every year at a big Veteran’s Day concert here, all the military songs are played and you are asked to stand during any service branch that your family had veterans in. I always stand for the Caisson Song and a few tears appear as I remember Daddy.

But back to the National Anthem, now that I think about it, I’m a little unclear why it is sung before sporting events these days.  This started during WWII when it roused patriotism and unity during a terrifying time in our history. Then everyone, even the athletes, knew the words and stood and sang them.  Now, no one seems to know the admittedly strange words to the first verse let along the very troublesome words to the other verses.  The only one who sings is a warbling popular vocalist who butchers the music. Standing had become a tradition, not a requirement.  As a child of WWII, I will always stand and sing, but I have never seen kneeling as disrespectful.