75 Seconds

…is the duration of our National Anthem.

75 seconds…

…is the sacrifice of your time to honor the Great Americans who can’t be there for the Anthem.

75 seconds…

…is the time span you stand at attention, with

your head up, your heart open, and your mouth

shut.

75 seconds…

The position is attention, not

comfort.

This reverence is specified in US Code.

During rendition of the national anthem when the flag is

displayed, all present. . .should stand at attention facing the flag with the right hand over

the heart. Men. . . should remove their headdress with their right hand and hold it at

the left shoulder, the hand being over the heart.

UNITED STATES CODE TITLE 36 CHAPTER 10 §171

For 75 seconds…

…think about the bravery

required to sign the Declaration

of Independence, and create the greatest nation

on earth.

For 75 seconds…

…think about the hundreds of thousands of Great Americans who were killed in

America.

For 75 seconds…

…think about those colors of red, white, and blue.

For 75 seconds…

…let the red in the Flag remind you of the blood of Great Americans, woven into the fabric of

that Flag.

For 75 seconds…

…let the red in the Flag remind you of bows on Christmas wreaths.

For 75 seconds…

…let the white in the Flag remind you of how many tears are soaked

into the threads of the Flag.

…by the wives…

…by the children…

…and by the soldiers

themselves.

For 75 seconds…

…let the white in the Flag remind

you of the beaches of Normandy…

……then let the red in the Flag

remind you of the beaches of Normandy.

For 75 seconds…

…let the red in the Flag remind you of a rose, and let the white remind you of a pair

of gloves.

For 75 seconds…

…let the white in the Flag remind you of crosses on foreign soil.

For 75 seconds…

…let the blue in the Flag remind you of oceans with sailors who launch but never

dock.

For 75 seconds…

…let the blue in the Flag remind you of the sky, and pilots who take off, but never

return to land.

For 75 seconds…

…think about the Great Americans who continue despite the odds...

…and have less than 75 seconds to live.

For 75 seconds…

…think about the families meeting

their loved ones at the airport.

For 75 seconds…

…think about the children being introduced to

their fathers for the first time.

For 75 seconds…

…think about the Americans who fought for the

Flag, and the daily pain they endure

from their wounds.

For 75 seconds…

…think about your best friend……who is not beside you, but above you.

For 75 seconds…

…think about how many Marines did not live to see the Flag over Mount

Suribachi.

For 75 seconds…

…think about how many people thank God for the endurance of that Flag.

For 75 seconds…

…think about your last traffic jam, and the importance of the appointment you missed.

For 75 seconds…

…think of Marine units with more helmets and boots than Marines.

For 75 seconds…

…think about those who sleep next to their loved ones… for the last time.

For 75 seconds…

…think about the faith in God that gives Great Americans their strength.

For 75 seconds…

…think about those Great Americans committed to saving other Great Americans.

For 75 seconds…

…think about the Great Americans

who are killed while trying to

save the lives of other Great Americans.

For 75 seconds…

…think about the Great Americans who don’t sleep at home in their beds.

For 75 seconds…

…thank God to be in the presence of that Flag.

For 75 seconds…

…think about all the people on earth who are alive because of sacrifices of Great

Americans.

For 75 seconds…

…think about how much you were “inconvenienced” on your last airplane

flight.

For 75 seconds…

…consider the awesome military might the Flag stands for, and the even stronger

compassion of its warriors.

For 75 seconds…

…think about those Great

Americans who see their brothers

perish for that Flag.

For 75 seconds…

…think about what a Flag at

half mast really

means.

For 75 seconds…

…think of all the families with Flags at home… …that are never unfolded.

For 75 seconds…

…think about holding the memory of the Great Americans close to your heart.

Think about this poem, written by a 10 year old girl, and read at her father’s funeral after he

died in Afghan fighting…

For 75 seconds…

My DadHe was a great Father for every good Reason, I wish he was still alive. He would still be with me if it hadn't gone wrong, I wish he had survived.

I feel like it was all a dream. But it's not what it seems. That he's still with me in my heart. And in my sad sad dreams.

I'm crying at this moment. But I can't stop now. I wish he was still with me. And he's whispering in the clouds.

I will visit you in your dreams.

And we shall roam free. Playing in the grassy fields. Definitely You and Me.

For 75 seconds…

…think about the generations of

Valor woven into the fabric of that

Flag.

For 75 seconds…

…think about those Great

Americans who understand.

For 75 seconds…

…think about the Great Americans

who thought about what the Flag

stood for…for 75 seconds.

For 75 seconds.