The number of people who are “taking a knee” during the National Anthem are growing but…the people who do not stand while the National Anthem is played, what do they do after the song stops? I would say in a lot of cases they are doing nothing. For many of these people they are only participating in the moment and I have learned from listening to Joe Madison in the mornings that the difference between a moment and a movement is sacrifice. Colin Kaepernick has sacrificed his job and his money for his belief in not standing during the National Anthem. There has been so much debate—should you stand or not. While I was listening to an afternoon talk show on KDKA radio I heard the host bring up the U.S. Code. I could not wait to get home and look it up and share it with you. Here is what is in the U.S. Code regarding the National Anthem.
The composition consisting of the words and music known as the Star-Spangled Banner is the national anthem.
(b) Conduct During Playing.—During a rendition of the national anthem—
(1) When the flag is displayed—
(A) Individuals in uniform should give the military salute at the first note of the anthem and maintain that position until the last note;
(B) Members of the Armed Forces and veterans who are present but not in uniform may render the military salute in the manner provided for individuals in uniform; and
(C) All other persons present should face the flag and stand at attention with their right hand over the heart, and men not in uniform, if applicable, should remove their headdress with their right hand and hold it at the left shoulder, the hand being over the heart; and
(2) When the flag is not displayed, all present should face toward the music and act in the same manner they would if the flag were displayed.
This information is from the Legal Information Institute Title 36 subtitle I Part A.
I have never heard of a U.S. Code, have you? And if you have heard of it, who enforces it? Is someone going to arrest me if I don’t follow this code? What if I go to the bathroom while the Anthem is playing or get something to eat, what if I can’t stand? So I went back to the Internet and looked up the U.S. Code, here is what I found.
The United States Code is the official, subject matter order, compilation of the federal laws of a general and permanent nature that are currently in force. In accordance with section 285b of title 2 of the U.S. Code, the Code is compiled by the Office of the Law Revision Counsel of the United States House of Representatives. The Code is divided into 50 titles by subject matter. There is a lot of information about what to do with the American Flag and when. I am just amazed that we did not learn about this code in school.
(Email Debbie at debbienorrell@aol.com)
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