The Star-Spangled Banner

Today a friend sent me an email about soldiers in Iraq who had gathered to watch a movie.  Before the movie started, everyone stood at attention while the National Anthem was played.  For some reason the music stopped before it was finished. The Anthem was started again and then stopped at the same place as before.  Instead of getting rowdy and impatient, they all stood there quietly.  Then a soldier started singing where the music left off, then a couple more soldiers joined in.  Soon everyone was singing.

The story reminded me that when my husband was in the Army, we would go to the movies on post.  The National Anthem was always played before the movie, and we always stood and placed our right hands over our hearts.  I haven't been to a movie on a military installation in years, but I do go to the movies in town once in a while.  The National Anthem is never played.  I think that would be a good thing to do.

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And the priets attended to their services; the Levites also with instruments of the music of the Lord, which King David had made to praise the LORD, saying, "For His mercy endures forever," whenever David offered praise by their ministry.  The priests sounded trumpets opposite them, while all Israel stood.  2 Chronicles 7:6