I had every intention of using this precious space I’m given to tell you about my concert experiences at this year’s Ribfest. Hearing Paul Rodgers belt out Bad Company classics was extraordinary, and attending Sammy Hagar’s rock and roll party was a blast, but it’s something much more traditional that I want to tell you about – The National Anthem.
Sometimes I lose faith in my country. Between politics, riots in the streets, and Honey Boo Boo, I seriously contemplate what it might be like to start over in some other part of the world. As I become more embarrassed by the culture we’ve created and begin to lose hope, there always seems to be something that restores my faith in this great land.
Before Sammy Hagar took the stage at Ribfest, three young Marines came center stage bearing our flag with heavy artillery resting upon their shoulders. The National Anthem was sung by a young girl going off to college in the fall. As this young lady’s voice carried over the sea of rabidly silent Hagar fans, I noticed that the flag bearer, a young African-American woman, had a single tear slowly rolling down her cheek. As she stood tall and rigid, I saw a love for this country and a true belief in “liberty and justice for all” that ran deep inside of her soul. Seeing this beautiful young soldier moved so deeply by those beautifully sung words ensured a hope for the future and made me proud to salute my flag.