A Sad Memorial Day Story
About 30 years ago, my wife at the time and I had visitors from England staying with us over Memorial Day. They asked if we could all attend the Memorial Day ceremony being held in our small community. We, of course, said yes. So, we went early so we could find places in the folding chairs set up at the local cemetery.
As is typical of such ceremonies, there were a few WWII and Korean War veterans in attendance, wearing old uniforms. I was sitting next to one veteran who had managed to get into his old Marine enlisted dress uniform one more time.
As is also typical of those ceremonies, there was a recital of the Pledge of Allegiance. Everyone stood and that recital began. The Marine veteran noticed that our British guests were not speaking, and looked them. He then loudly hissed "Say the Pledge, dammit!" in their direction. They said nothing, and simply looked ahead. The guy glared at them harshly.
After the Pledge, everyone took their seat. At that point, I turned to the guy in the uniform, leaned near him and quietly said, "They're British citizens, not Americans. You were extremely rude to our guests." He did not apologize, but looked angrily at them again. I apologized for him later.
Sadly, people make all sorts of assumptions and, all too often, blurt out their frustrations on the basis of those assumptions. In crowds, at events like that one, at sporting events, and in other places where public displays of patriotism occur, there are often people who are not American citizens. It's a shame that some don't recognize that and hold their tongues when some people do not participate.
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