This is my take on kneeling during the National Anthem. I understand that there are people who take a knee for other things that are happening in this country, but there are people taking a knee during the singing of this country's National Anthem. This became a big issue when Colin Kaepernick, a former quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers, started the movement in 2016 when he took a knee during the anthem for police brutality against African Americans and other minorities. Everyone is free to do as they please; it is their life and right, but this is my stance on the issue.

Last week, a friend asked me my thoughts about people kneeling during the National Anthem. She wanted to know if I thought it was disrespectful. Being a veteran who did my part while I was in the military, I do feel that it is.

I believe everyone should stand, salute (if in uniform) or place your right hand over your heart. I don’t think that anyone should kneel.

Like every other servicemen or servicewomen, we took an oath to serve our country, to support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic. We all took this oath with an American flag present. Everyone was standing.

We are not just standing for some flag, we are standing for what has been done in our history and why we are the land of the free. This country has fought many battles and men and women have lost their lives protecting evil from coming into this country. I stand before this flag for the military personnel that has died protecting it.

In 2013, an ex-NFL player decided to leave the NFL and enlist into the United States Army. Glen Coffee was a running back for the San Francisco 49ers and has served in the Army for almost four years. I haven’t seen or heard any comments from him as far as NFL players protesting the Anthem, but I would love to hear his take on the issue.

Pittsburgh Steelers offensive lineman Alejandro Villanueva was an Army Ranger and did three tours in Afghanistan. Before the game between the Chicago Bears, the Steelers team did not come out for the National Anthem, but Villanueva did and was the only Steeler to do so standing at the tunnel entrance with his hand over his heart. He was criticized for this by the Steeler’s organization and since then apologized for his actions and felt he let the team down. Sir, I read about what you did over in Afghanistan, and I salute you for that. You are a hero in my books and what you did by coming out to the tunnel and standing before that flag was the RIGHT thing to do.

So think about this the next time you hear the National Anthem being played. Think about the flag being lowered to half-staff to honor victims of a tragic event such as 9/11 or the Mandalay Bay shooting. Think about being on that flight to whatever your destination may be and waiting on the plane to either disembark, or take off and the airport crew is loading or unloading the body of a service member that is draped with the flag. Just let that sink in.

I will NOT take a knee for our flag or for this country. I love this country too much and love the brothers and sisters that stood beside me during times when our nation needed us the most.