A Simple Bit Of Beautiful Americana Not Likely To Be Remembered By Anyone But Me

Last night – in the wind, drizzle and 40 degree temperatures – I attended my six-year-old daughter’s soccer game at the local soccer complex. This complex is located on “north hill” in my home town. There are few trees on “north hill,” either at the complex or, really, anywhere between there and Canada. To say that the area is exposed to the raw elements of the weather is understatement.
But the parents in my community are mostly good parents who wouldn’t dream of missing a soccer game even if arctic winter gear were required. So I was in that crowd of parents huddled under jackets and blankets watching our herd of kids chase a ball around the field when the local high school team began it’s game on the varsity field next door. It opened with the usual lineup announcements, and then the loudspeaker began playing our national anthem.
There were approximately four fields hosting young soccer players in the midst of their respective games, but when the opening notes of The Star Spangled Banner began to play all the kids froze. The ball bounced away and became still. All of the parents on the sidelines stood, and everyone faced the high school field even though “old glory” wasn’t visible to us. In this brief moment of unity, everyone put their hands over their hearts and were silent until our national song was over.
This wasn’t done because anyone felt compelled to. Nobody at that complex feared being turned into government authorities if they didn’t show the proper respect to our flag and anthem. At worst, someone doing that might earn a few sideways glances and some grumbling, but certainly not the wrath of some local bureaucrat. Instead, everyone at that complex was silent and respectful because they love this country and everything it stands for. And what’s more, that silence and respect was reflexive.
When the song ended the games started again, complete with stampeding kids and parents shouting encouragement, but for one brief moment everyone at that complex had stood together in the wind and cold (when most of them would probably rather have the game get over quickly so they could retreat to their warm homes) in honor of our country. It was…beautiful.
I think we Americans take our love of country for granted. I doubt that there are many other places in the world where something like that would have happened. In most places of the world, fealty and respect for the government is mandatory. Those speaking out or otherwise showing disrespect are punished. But, ironically, it is Americans who are free to be as insulting or disparaging toward their country and political leaders as they want to be who tend to be the most patriotic.