I attended Saturday’s basketball game against Miami, the first game I’ve been able to go to in several years. It turned out to be Military Appreciation Day. That immediately brought back memories of doing color guards at Carter-Finley Stadium and in Reynolds Coliseum. I was in Air Force ROTC while at State and my organization, the Marching Cadet Fraternity, also did yearly Belltower vigils every Dec. 6-7. The game started with a joint-ROTC color guard and with both teams lined up facing inward to the center of the court. With the sound system and lighting available in PNC Arena, the presentation was, I admit, quite a bit more impressive than when I was a student.

However, during the national anthem, many students and some alumni could be heard yelling “red!” when the lyrics are “rockets’ red glare.” And at the end, where the lyrics are “land of the free and home of the brave” again the same people yelled “Wolfpack!” As a veteran and alumnus I was completely embarrassed for my school. The mood of the terrific multi-service color guard was completely blown. I don’t know what the people thought they were accomplishing. Were they trying to be cool, or original, or clever? It was none of the three. And it certainly wasn’t appropriate for the theme of the day.

I talked to another State friend of mine yesterday about the game and about the conduct during the anthem. It definitely didn’t happen when we were there in the ‘80s. But he mentioned he’d heard the same thing at football games. When and why did this “tradition” begin? Did students think it’d be fine to show school spirit this way? Or maybe some group started copying another school ala (God forbid) the Cameron Crazies? During the game there was a moment of silence. How long until it becomes de rigueur to shout during those occasions, too?

Not long ago Virginia Tech basketball coach Buzz Williams noticed his players were fidgeting around during the national anthem. He called in several military veterans and spoke to his players about why it is important to be respectful during the playing of the song. His main point was that the players hadn’t earned the “right” to be sitting on the team seats. The service members had earned the right by virtue of giving much of their lives in service to our country. At the end of his talk he lined up the veterans and players and had the anthem performed. In the video that documented the meeting you can see the stark difference in players’ body language before and after Williams’ speech.

I wonder what it would take to discourage Wolfpack students and fans from yelling during the Anthem. At the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington, Virginia the honor guards sometimes have to deal with disrespectful visitors by loudly reminding them of the expected decorum. That probably wouldn’t be effective in a college game environment. But if Athletics Director Debbie Yow or one of the head coaches made an announcement beforehand, or the Technician staff wrote an editorial, I think the “tradition” of yelling during the anthem at NC State would quickly disappear.

I thoroughly enjoyed seeing the different military service members being honored throughout the game. From the pep band leading off with the Armed Forces medley to the Purple Heart recipients to the video greeting by the Air Force general who is a State graduate, the day was well-conceived and, I think, very well-received. I hope I get to attend another appreciation day. I also hope those students and young alumni get the message and don’t ruin the anthem and bring dishonor to those State alumni who have earned the “right” to the seats.