I recently attended a sporting event at Soddy Daisy High School.  I was impressed with the enthusiasm of the students, the involvement of the parents, and the general excitement in the air.  And then they made the announcement to stand for the National Anthem... and I've never been so appalled in my life.

While everyone stood, most of the Soddy Daisy parents and students were still talking during the Anthem, not really facing the flag, and very few of them had their hands over their hearts.  Parents who were working the concession stand were laughing and talking very loudly, despite being told by several others to hush, that the Anthem was playing.  Parents and students from the other team at least had the good sense to keep quiet... though they weren't all facing the flag with their hands over their hearts either.. but some were.

I'm shocked at this lack of disrespect, not to mention ignorance.  Are the people of Soddy Daisy unaware that their police chief, Phillip Hamrick, deployed to the Middle East for a year with his Naval Reserve unit?   If anything, that should give them an extra reason for showing support and respect for their flag, considering one of their most valued members of their community deployed for a year to defend it.

So for those of you that aren't up to speed on the rules, it's really simple: You stand for the National Anthem, and you face the flag, with your hand over your heart.  You don't talk, or laugh, or yell, or text, or take a phone call during the National Anthem.  You can sing the Anthem, but, at the very least, you face your flag with pride, with your hand over your heart, and if you aren't comfortable singing, then keep your mouth shut during the National Anthem. 

Many men and women died for that flag, and your freedom.  The very least you can do is to show support and respect to it when instructed to do so.

Jan Carlson

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We must have been at the same sporting event.  I attended two volleyball games there, and I noticed it too.  Many people seemed like they had better things to do than to show respect for the flag or the National Anthem. 

I know Chief Hamrick, and I would have thought if respect was shown anywhere for the flag, it would be in Soddy Daisy, as he's a well respected member of the community who did indeed deploy overseas with his military unit for a year.   However, I don't think it's quite fair to single out Soddy Daisy for this type of behavior as it occurs everywhere these days.  Unfortunately, it's a sad commentary on our times.  Just check out the Armed Forces Day Parade.  Many people don't stand when the actual service members march by, nor do they stand when the flag is paraded by. 

It just goes to show how times have changed in this country.  A few decades ago, almost everyone in the entire country was somehow connected to the military.  Either they were service members, or they had family members who served, or at the very least, had a close friend or neighbor that served.  That has since changed.    I don't think anyone is purposefully ignoring the flag or the National Anthem.  I just don't think they know any better.  The flag and National Anthem aren't as important to this country as they used to be, because it's now the exception to be connected to the military in some way, not the norm. And people associate the flag and National Anthem with the U.S. Armed Forces, as they are the ones who defend the flag.   

Mariah Smith

* * *

Unfortunately, our president has demonstrated similar behavior. The official DNC response to the infamous of his "crotch salute" photograph that was widely circulated was "The President sometimes salutes the flag." 

It seems that little if anything is respected anymore. 

John L. Odom
Retired Teacher

* * *

Oh thank goodness somebody finally wrote a letter linking President Obama to an appalling lack of respect for the flag at Soddy Daisy.  I was wondering how those two seemingly incongruent subjects could ever be tied together, but it ain't no step for a stepper.  Good job.  

Herb Montgomery
Hixson

* * *

I attended the Soddy Daisy/Baylor game that Jan Carlson described as filled with an "appalling lack of respect for the flag."   

As the attached photo will demonstrate – there was plenty of respect shown as one would expect. 

Those who are working (volunteering for free) in the hot concession stand cannot hear the details of what’s happening on the field.  The area surrounding the concession stand is understandably busy and loud with plenty of high school students who also may not be aware what’s happening in the stadium.  I don’t believe any public stadium’s periphery shuts down during the Anthem as the focus is for those IN the stadium. 

I’ve been to dozens of games at Soddy Daisy and find it one of the most respectful venues I’ve attended. 

Sam Hall
Hixson

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Mr. Odom, I wholeheartedly agree that "little if anything is respected anymore." Your comment is a perfect example of this fact. Your statement that President Obama doesn't respect the flag because of a picture of him giving "crotch salute" is a lie. A 30-second search on the internet shows this link explaining that the President was standing with his hands folded in front of him during the playing of "Hail to the Chief", not the" Star Spangled Banner" or the Pledge of Allegiance.

I don't care if you don't like the President, but base your opinion on facts, not lies.

Robert Pregulman
Seattle, Wa.

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Nowhere in Ms. Carlson's article does she say she attended the Soddy Daisy vs. Baylor Football game, she said she attended a "sporting event."  Believe it or not, there are other sporting events held at high schools besides football games.  And if anyone noticed, when Ms. Carlson's opinion article first appeared a couple of days ago, there was no picture with it.  So the picture that now appears with it is obviously not the sporting event Ms. Carlson refers too.  The picture is very misleading, and it shouldn't appear with this article. 

I attended a volleyball game there on Monday... and I'm pretty sure that's the "sporting event" Ms. Carlson is referring too.  There was very little respect shown at that event.  Plenty of respect was shown by the volleyball players from both teams.  It's the parents and the other people in the bleachers who weren't showing the proper respect.  And that does include the parents working the concession stand.  They were told to be quiet, that the anthem was playing..I know, because I'm the one that told them.  They kept right on laughing and talking loudly. 

This article isn't about whether a flag ceremony is held or not, or whether the National Anthem is played or not at sporting events, ...  It's about the people that are ignoring the flag ceremony and ignoring the National Anthem.  

And I noticed plenty of people at the volleyball game, mostly parents, who are supposed to be setting the example, ignoring what was going on, continuing their conversations, talking on their cell phones, etc. 

Unfortunately, this doesn't happen only in Soddy Daisy, it happens everywhere.  So for you Soddy folks, don't take offense at this article, and don't try and pretend it doesn't happen in Soddy.  It does indeed happen everywhere.  And it shouldn't.  Stop what you're doing, and show respect to your flag, your country, and those that protect that flag, especially when the National Anthem is playing. 

Allen Buchannon