Hope more folks rec. this forward...

where a forced show of love of a song became a requirement to play professional sports?

as a weapon to attack people who do not march in lockstep with them.

I am a VN veteran and the false patriot stick of people like trump is garbage. We the people love our country, not trump or the ones that work with russians.
We well not lay down and let them take over our country. The trumpites have lost touch with the idea of shared country, the takers and makers crap.. i severed my country, i worked at many good and bad jobs for 45 years, i payed into the system and hoped for the best. They want it all..just like trump never pay the bills just get another chump lawyer. The one thing I learned over the year is Karma works and trump is going the same place as hitler and Saddam.

I come from a family with lots of veterans, of WWII and Korea, none disabled but they would agree with him..... The flag is a symbol of our rights. You do not honor it by denying people their rights to political expression!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

(consider this all capitals)

My oath was to the Constitution, not the flag. Included in that oath was a promise to protect and defend the First Amendment.

As someone posted in another string. I will not take a knee during the National Anthem. However, I will stand beside, behind or (if need be), in front of those who do.

My first and most important order was and still is "to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States, ...".

The flag I'll respect; the Constitution and all the rights and responsibilities therein I will defend.

I served in 2 branches, and swore the same oath to the US Constitution both times. The flag is used as a symbol in the military, an identifier of who is serving nearby. It is the Constitution that we defend for the Constitution IS our nation, our reason for being, our country. I was in the Air Force during Iran/Contra and my republican sister asked what I thought of Oliver North, and was shocked when I said he was a traitor. I explained he swore an oath to protect and defend the Constitution, not the President who was wiping his ass with it. Don't thank me for my service, work to make our country better...that will justify my willingness to die for this nation.

I don't ask for thanks for my service. I get a retirement check for which I am grateful. What I ask is that we honor the service of all the services by defending the Constitution.

and the sentiments expressed by the original OP and other vets here are mine too.

Thank you!

With the people who say, "Well, my father/mother/son/daughter/husband/wife/etc. is/was in this branch of the military, and they say <insert what is more likely the opinion of the author than the military person they know).

I reply back with, "My dad joined the Navy in 1945, got discharged when the war ended, and then got drafted into the army during Korea because he didn't serve a full term in 45. He was in TWO branches of the military so that must mean MY opinions are worth twice as much as yours..."

TlalocW