I am generally not one to promote telling others how to live their lives, or how to conduct themselves outside of a professional work environment. In that spirit I merely suggest the following: place your right hand over your heart, while standing, whenever you are a participant in an event where the Star Spangled Banner (or the Pledge of Allegiance mind you) is being repeated.
I know this is borderline mundane, but being the season of graduations and baseball I have noticed that this is becoming a relic of our culture. I urge you to do it out of reverence for all those that have gone before you to make this nation great. Set an example to those around you. Trust me, someone is looking around to see if others are actually covering their heart to not themselves be made a social outcast. You know what I'm talking about. That feeling that someone is watching and you don't want them thinking badly of you by making yourself seem different.
I confess: I've done it! I despise it to very the essence of my existance, but I've done it! It takes effort to do what one knows is right while throwing caution to the wind. This article is to remind you of what is right. If in your own heart you are comfortable making this the only way you show your patriotism, let it be known that it can make a difference in someone else’s life! Oh, and by the way it's the law.
From this site: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/36/301.html
TITLE 36 > Subtitle I > Part A > CHAPTER 3 > § 301
§ 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.
Albeit a short list in comparison, some laws are in place with purely good intentions at heart. Although fairly arbitrary, I find it interesting to note how important someone thought this issue was to enact it as law so long ago.
This country is special because of the men and women that have done and given so much for it. Please for a single moment think of them; and all that has been accomplished with our Declaration of Independence and Constitution so you can live under that Star Spangled Banner proudly displayed before you in the land of the free (that's here!) and the home of the brave (that's you!).
Spoiler alert: I must warn you that if in the event of my death you happen to attend my funeral you shall sing ALL four verses of this song.
In closing, a rare glimpse at the second verse of the National Anthem of these United States; The Star Spangled Banner:
http://www.thenationalanthemproject.org/lyrics.html
On the shore dimly seen through the mists of the deep.
Where the foe’s haughty host in dread silence reposes,
What is that which the breeze, o’er the towering steep,
As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?
Now it catches the gleam of the morning’s first beam,
In full glory reflected now shines in the stream:
‘Tis the Star-Spangled Banner! O long may it wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave.
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