1. If you are outside, you must
a. Stand up, face a flag, or at least toward the center of base where the flag is being lowered, cross your heart and stand still. Singing along is optional.
b. If you are in uniform, you must come to attention and salute the nearest flag, or in the general direction of the center of base where the daily flag lowering ceremony is taking place.
c. Hurry inside at the very beginning notes of the song so you don't have to stand there and get assaulted by flies.
2. If you are inside you must:
a. Stay inside until the entire song has finished playing.
b. Open a fresh bottle of wine because it's now happy hour!
3. If you are driving on base you must:
a. Pull over to the side of the road and remain stopped until the end of the song.
We've been working with the kids for years to know what to do, and what not to do, while the National Anthem plays. Phoebe is still young so she will occassionally go outside on purpose as the song begins so she can stand still, heart crosses, and try to sing along with the orchestra.
Sometimes she gets it. Sometimes she doesn't.
But what they haven't figured out yet, six months later, is which direction to face during the song:
If you don't know which way to face, chances are you'll be right some of the time if you keep changing directions.
Now, play ball!
