Respect for the Anthem

[bigsig]

I attended the Long Island HS championships last week and have a question for my fellow umps. This was held at a typical softball complex. 4 fields facing N, S, E, and W with concessions in the middle. One game started on time and the others were about to start when the National Anthem was played over the loud speaker system.

All of the fans, as well as the teams whose games had not started stood in silence with hats off during the Anthem.

Except the game that was in progress. There was no attempt by either the 3 umps nor the coaches or players to stop and show respect for our national Anthem.

My question: When this happens to you, do you stop play and remove your hat until the Anthem has ended?

[argodad]

Yes. I would stop play as soon as the ball is in the circle, turn and face the flag, stand at attention, remove my hat and place it over my heart. Hopefully everyone else on that field would do likewise.

[MichaelVA2000]

I'm with argodad. At first opportunity I would have stopped play so respect for our National Anthem could be honored.

Why had the one game started before the National Anthem?

[IRISHMAFIA]

Without going into the discussion of whether it is the anthem or the flag which it accompanies is the target of the respect, this was poorly done by those in charge of the complex/tournament.

Yes, I would probably stop the game if possible. However, I would not be so harsh on the umpires which did not. I've seen other situations involving military officers which aggravated the hell out of the enlisted personnel, but that's life. You cannot get people to stop walking down an aisle at a game or shut up during the national anthem, what makes you think you can get girls to understand why you would stop the game?

[wadeintothem]

You stop the game ASAP when the ball is in the circle.

Another no brainer.

Stop drinking that delaware water mike.

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by wadeintothem

You stop the game ASAP when the ball is in the circle.

Another no brainer.

Do you ever bother reading just the words of another's post?

Too bad you weren't with me the last Armed Forces championship I worked where the base commander, wing commander and another ranking officer stood in the middle of the softball field, covered and in a relaxed posture during the presentation of the colors.

[wadeintothem]

Originally Posted by IRISHMAFIA

Do you ever bother reading just the words of another's post?

Too bad you weren't with me the last Armed Forces championship I worked where the base commander, wing commander and another ranking officer stood in the middle of the softball field, covered and in a relaxed posture during the presentation of the colors.

LOL, dont worry, I've done my share of standing around with base commanders standing in the middle of a field.. for hours on end at times.

[NCASAUmp]

Originally Posted by wadeintothem

LOL, dont worry, I've done my share of standing around with base commanders standing in the middle of a field.. for hours on end at times.

A friend of mine came back from Kuwait with her unit sometime in 2004. Once they were on American soil, there was a little ceremony for them on base. Her first sergeant either got too caught up in his thoughts or was an idiot, and he forgot to give the order to salute the flag.

The local press got a hold of it, and turned it into, "this was to protest such a long deployment in Kuwait, blah blah blah..."

No, the dumb @$$ just slipped and forgot to give the order.