The Do’s and Don’ts of the National Anthem

On this July Fourth, we are getting word the Philippines may pass a new law requiring people in that country to sing their national anthem with ‘spirit’ or face time in jail. But, the United States has no such law.

There is no law on the books. In fact, NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick caused a lot of controversy last year by first sitting while the anthem was being played and then changing that stance to kneeling. Mark Clague at the University of Michigan, one of the foremost national experts on the anthem, told KTRH there is a US Flag Code that comes into play, but it’s a code, not a law.

“The idea of saluting the flag, having your hand over your heart, remaining motionless and facing the flag are what is typical in most performances of the anthem,” Clague explained.

And despite what you may think, the anthem hasn't been the official anthem here in America for very long.

“Surprisingly it was recently. On March 3rd, 1931, President Hoover signed a bill that made the Star Spangled Banner the official anthem of the United States of America,” Clague said.

But, it had been the unofficial anthem since shortly after the Civil War.


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