I see a lot of controversy about kneeling during the anthem. Mostly that it’s being viewed as 
disrespectful to every person who fought and died for this country. They’re disrespecting our military and our country and our flag!
disrespectful to every person who fought and died for this country. They’re disrespecting our military and our country and our flag!Well, as a veteran of over 20 years in the military I’d just like to tell all of those people… shut up.
The military has one job: to support and defend the constitution of the United States. That’s it. That’s their job. It’s literally part of the enlistment oath they raise their right hand and say when they join the military or reenlist every 4 years, and the constitution says it’s ok to peacefully protest in any way you feel necessary.
Here’s the thing – I wouldn’t kneel during the anthem. I am a patriot and feel it’s more respectful to stand and either place your hand over your heart or salute if you’re a veteran.
However, as a veteran who is sworn to support and defend the constitution, I will walk in front of a bullet to protect someone who is peacefully protesting, because that is their constitutional right and I will not let anyone take it away from them. Agreeing with them has nothing to do with my duty.
Kneeling during the anthem has NOTHING to do with the military. It has NOTHING to do with the flag. They are COMPLETELY unrelated because the anthem is a song, the flag is an object, and the military is here to defend our constitutional right to protest.
Watching someone kneel during the anthem doesn’t bother me. Sure, I disagree with them, but I still feel it’s their right, and as an actual 20 year, active duty defender of the constitution, I feel I have a perspective that needs to be heard.
Kneeling isn’t being disrespectful to me, it was Kaepernick’s way of saying this country has let down black people and that we haven’t done enough to stop systemic racism in this country. I personally feel he chose the wrong way to get that point across because it was too divisive. But on the other hand… boy did it get the conversation started.
The facts are these: no military person ever fought or died for a song, or for a flag. They fought and died to protect the constitution because it gives us the rights and the way of life we all seem to take for granted every day.
I’m sure I’ll get a lot of grief because of this post, but that’s ok. I want y’all to know that you’re opinions are valuable, and you are entitled to them. That’s what makes this country great. But stop saying that kneeling during the anthem is disrespectful to our military… because I’m the military and I’m not offended.
So protest! Protest as much as you can to bring injustice to light… because the military has your back.
Respectfully,
J. Bret Lamb, USAF (Ret)
