Two players know respect for anthem

One of the things I miss about active duty in the U.S. Marine Corps is the traditional respect accorded the National Ensign. The Colors ceremony is held each morning at 0800. At that time, a bugler will sound “Attention” and you hear cries of “Colors!” shouted from many corners of the camp.

While this is happening, every other activity stops, all hands face the flag, come to attention and render a hand salute if in uniform. If you are in formation, the leader will call the formation to attention and render the hand salute for the entire group.

After “Attention” is sounded, the National Anthem is played and the colors are raised. On a normal day, after “Attention” and in the absence of a band, “To the Colors” is played by the bugler at morning colors. At the completion of morning colors the bugler sounds “Carry On” and activity resumes as normal.

The same ceremony is conducted at sunset for evening colors with the exception that “Retreat” is played after “Attention” while the colors are lowered. “Carry On” by the bugle will once again end the ceremony.

Either morning or evening colors will normally last no longer than 15 minutes. If you ever have a chance, take the time to watch it.

Two individuals in the National Football League are familiar with the above information and comported themselves accordingly for the games played on Sept. 24.

Joseph Cardona is the long snapper for the New England Patriots. Cardona is also a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy and was until recently on active duty with the Navy. He is currently in the U.S. Navy Reserve. Find a photo of the New England team and you will see one member, number 49, standing at rigid attention while the anthem plays.

Pittsburgh Steelers guard Alejandro Villanueva also stood alone on that Sunday while the anthem played and his teammates remained behind him in the tunnel. Villanueva is a graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, and served as a captain of Army Rangers in Afghanistan. After the game, Steelers coach Mike Tomlin told reporters that he had hoped for 100 percent support for the protest.

Tomlin should have had his team stand united with their only member who made it possible for the rest of them to protest. It was not about protesting, it was about the flag and the anthem.

“In times of war and not before,

“God and the soldier we adore.

“But in times of peace and all things righted,

“God is forgotten and the soldier slighted.”

— Rudyard Kipling

Rube Render is the Curry County Republican chairman. Contact him at:

[email protected]