My first flag salute and national anthem!

White Dove

I've come a long way, Baby!

I stood for the National Anthem for the first time ever at graduation on Sunday.

I saluted the flag for the first time ever at a community event last night.

It was surreal and felt wonderful, like I was doing something so natural and good.

When I put my hand over my heart for the first time, it felt very strange. I had to think for a minute if I used the proper hand over the right place. I did, but it felt weird to do and it felt very strange to say the words for the first time that I had always thought previously but never dared to say aloud.

I cried during the NA because it was the first time I allowed myself to feel a deep sense of patriotism. Oh, it felt so good! It was such an emotional experience.

I wonder how many never-beens feel this way. Is it mostly the ones that never could do it but do it now that feel so inspired by these experiences?

sacolton

Yup, me too! Didn't feel wrong either. Congratulations!

Not to hijack the thread, but I felt the most powerful feeling overcome me when I prayed directly to Jesus Christ for Him to live in my heart. Words can not describe the feeling ... it's almost like your heart is overflowing with pure bliss. Not once did I have that feeling as a JW.

POs Son

Welcome to the pride of patriotism. I remember my first time too, about 17 years old at a Memorial Day parade. It is a pleasure to be proud of your homeland. There is nothing wrong with pledging your allegiance to your homeland, its not like you turned away from your wife to the country, or from your job to the country. In the same way, your allegiance is to THIS nation, as opposed to another. God does not mind.

Emma

I think my first time was just after the events of 9/11.There was an impromptu concert that came together at the UM campus. The vocal music department s well as singers from all over the area joined to make one huge choir. We sang the national anthem, among other patriotic songs and it felt so good to join in.

undercover

I think it's the freedom of choice to be able to join in the NA and FS that is more important than the actual act itself.

I personally still do not join in the FS or NA. I stand for both, I remove a hat if wearing one, and remain respectfully quiet but choose to not join in. Just standing and facing the flag is more than I was allowed as a child.

After living a life of blind allegiance to a religious organization, I've decided that the only allegiances that I have is to myself and my family. I'll give no worship, allegiance or blind patriotism to any government, nation, relgion or any other group.

But it is good to see that people are able to leave the taboos of the WTS behind them and move ahead and join in activities that they want to or need to.

Quirky1

Patriotism and liberation at it's best.

momzcrazy

I had the same feelings. But I stood with pride in honoring the great country I had the good fortune to be born in.

momz

NewYork44M

I am not real big on saluting the flag. I think that is kind of silly. However, I do get goose bumps and feel a sense of pride when I hear and stand for the national anthem.

White Dove

I never believed that pledging allegiance to the flag was worship. I also never really felt that going to the meetings and listening to lectures and school-like programs there was worship, either. I thought about that while at the meetings. I thought that the Catholics do a better job of actual worship than JW because they have actual acts of worship, whereas JW's just sit in chairs and do nothing.

babygirl75

I'm like Emma; my first time was right after the 9/11 events. That is the time I was df'd. It is amazing how much pride you feel when you allow yourself to embrace the national anthem and stand & salute our military, fire fighters, police, ems, and all our other hero's. I even love the "proud to be an american" song by Lee Greenwood.

My first flag salute and national anthem!

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