I agree with Jim Andrews’ comment below. I would just add that the Secretary of the Navy ordered it to be played at all flag raisings, and Pres. Woodrow Wilson, in 1916, ordered it to be played at all Military ceremonies and such…but it didn’t become official until Herbert Hoover made it so. AFAIK the whole National (USA) Anthem is a new thing by any country’s standards. Most of the world, excluding banana republics, only play their anthem at International sporting events In the good old days, when television broadcasts from the BBC went off at night, the National Anthem was played, and the TV picture faded to a white dot, then just an electronic bleep to tell you that it was time for bed. I miss those days so much. We don’t generally have them in England unless a national team is playing and I have never ever heard anyone complaining of lack of respect. Who exactly is being disrespected when an anthem is not played?
Comments