Comments on: Protocol for the National Anthem and Pledge of Allegiance

By: Deborah Hendrick

Deborah Hendrick — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 16:55:06 +0000

Christopher—I struggled with your question, wrote several responses and deleted them all. I agree—most cautiously—with your premise: Is it safe to say that unless the National Anthem is performed as the National Anthem, it’s not? But I want to enlarge upon it, so I have decided to write a new article for The Daily Flag, where I will explore your question at length. I probably won’t get it posted until next week, but your question about this particular bit of National Anthem protocol deserves a closer examination. In the meantime, can you provide me with more information about the Dudley Buck recording? I would like to listen to it myself. My email is deborah@flagsbay.com

Thank you for writing, Christopher.

By: Christopher

Christopher — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 19:36:23 +0000

What is the protocol when the Star-Spangled banner is interwoven within another musical work? I recently heard a recording of a piece by Dudley Buck entitled, “Festival Overture on the National Air,” which was obviously based on what we know as the Star-Spangled Banner. I know that Buck passed away before the SSB was officially adopted as the National Anthem, and upon reading online, I’ve come to realize that there are a number of musical works which incorporate some of the strains of the SSB with different interpretations. Is it safe to say that unless the National Anthem is performed as the National Anthem, it’s not?

By: Deborah Hendrick

Deborah Hendrick — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 20:25:56 +0000

Joe, I don’t know a lot about hockey, but I understand fans—and when the game stops, they want to get out of their seats, go to the restroom, and get more food and drinks. That 20 minute break was designed for the players, not the fans! I don’t know what management could do that would encourage the fans to stop and listen to the kid(s) singing. While God Bless America is one of this country’s favorite patriotic songs, it it not necessary for the audience to stand while it is being performed—that is an honor reserved for the National Anthem.

I just timed myself singing God Bless America, and including a pretend introduction—and it took well under two minutes. Maybe if one of the Islander players stood on center ice with a hand-held microphone and introduced the child and the song—and then stood there with the little singer—perhaps that would slow the fans down long enough to watch and listen.

You’re welcome to call the management with my idea! And thank you for writing Joe.

By: Joe

Joe — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 14:50:59 +0000

The NY Islanders hockey team has been having kids sing God Bless America during one of the intermissions. They announce that the song is being played but people geenrally go about their business while it is being sung. Is this appropriate? Should the team be asking people to stand, etc?

By: Deborah Hendrick

Deborah Hendrick — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 17:04:47 +0000

LilliPop, as long as you were not physically or vocally crude, coarse, and/or vulgar during the playing of the National Anthem, it would not bother me if you sat out the song. I would hope that you would be as polite during the Star-Spangled Banner as you would be during Oh Canada, or God Save the Queen, or any other nation's national anthem.

By: LilliPop

LilliPop — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 06:11:03 +0000

Not Standing During the National Anthem…

I am not a supporter of any military service or most of the government invovlvement we have in this country. But I stay because of the freedoms I do have (hey look at me a hypocryte). And one of those is not standing for this song I did not choose nor approve of. Would that bother you if we sat near each other?

By: Deborah Hendrick

Deborah Hendrick — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 18:22:20 +0000

Gordy—we are in agreement on this one. I believe the National Anthem should always be announced before it is performed. If it is not, I think that you as a musician are permitted to kindly and graciously signal those assembled that they should stand.

By: Deborah Hendrick

Deborah Hendrick — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 18:18:41 +0000

Thank you for writing, Gordon. The portion of the U.S. Code that addresses conduct during the National Anthem is in a different section from the Flag Code, and is frequently overlooked. Note the part that I have put in bold print. It says “all present” and I believe that means all who are there in person at that particular moment in time.

* TITLE 36–PATRIOTIC AND NATIONAL OBSERVANCES, CEREMONIES, AND ORGANIZATIONS
o SUBTITLE I–PATRIOTIC AND NATIONAL OBSERVANCES AND CEREMONIES
+ PART A–OBSERVANCES AND CEREMONIES
# CHAPTER 3–NATIONAL ANTHEM, MOTTO, FLORAL EMBLEM, AND MARCH
* Section 301–National Anthem

Sec. 301. National anthem

(a) Designation.–The composition consisting of the words and music
known as the Star-Spangled Banner is the national anthem.
(b) Conduct During Playing.–During a rendition of the national
anthem–
(1) when the flag is displayed–
(A) all present except those in uniform should stand at
attention facing the flag with the right hand over the heart;
(B) men not in uniform should remove their headdress with
their right hand and hold the headdress at the left shoulder,
the hand being over the heart; and
(C) individuals in uniform should give the military salute
at the first note of the anthem and maintain that position until
the last note; and

(2) when the flag is not displayed, all present should face
toward the music and act in the same manner they would if the flag
were displayed.

By: Gordon Templeton

Gordon Templeton — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 15:00:34 +0000

My friend says that a person must stand when the national anthem is played on TV before a ball game when you are in your house. I say that the protacall states only when you are in public . Thank you for your answer.

By: Gordy Coolman

Gordy Coolman — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 01:20:34 +0000

Well, as a professional musician, I get the Star Spangled Banner requested a lot. It seems
to me that most people mean well even when they don’t know what to do when it’s played.
I am under the impression that it goes better when an announcer or host or leader of some type, makes a polite request of the others to do a specific thing or things, e.g. “Ladies and gentlemen, please stand for our national anthem, and remain standing until the colors are
posted.” I find that guiding people in ceremonies of all types is usually reassuring. Participants even express their appreciation afterwards.

All the best to my fellow Americans,

Gordy Coolman