[EmailPoster]

I know that we stand while singing the star-spangled banner,...

Originally Posted by somethingspecial

I know that we stand while singing the Star-Spangled banner, but today I was at a
function, and at the start of the function we stood for Grace, the Pledge of
Allegiance, and then sang God Bless America. Two women sat down during the song, they
stated that they were told only to stand while singing the Star Spangled banner. to
stand during any other patriotic song was discrespectful.
Then, at the end of the luncheon, the musician asked us all to stand and sing God
Bless AMerica, again these 2 ladies remained seated, even though we were asked to
stand and everyone else stood and sang.
While leaving, one lady told everyone, she was a past president of the women's
auxiliary of the VFW, and most definitely we were not to stand except for the salute
to the Flag, the Pledge, and ONLY Star Spangled Banner. To stand for God Bless
America was disrespectful to our flag and country.
PLEASE- tell me the proper etiquette, so that when we run our next function, we will
handle it in the proper manner.
I thank you in advance for any assistance you might offer,
Respectfully,
Josephine

[dvs723]

I believe those two women were confused. It is considered disrespectful to sit during the song, especially if you were ASKED to stand! Remember Carlos Delgado, the baseball player who never stood during the song because he was protesting the war in Iraq? Obviously he was not exercising etiquette so sitting is definitely not the proper etiquette.

However, standing or sitting or kneeling are all options any patron may engage in...that's the fundamental liberty we have by being Americans.