Danny,
I feel your pain. I don't know where you grew up, but in the late 50's early 60's, we were allowed to stand at attention, however my younger brother and I both were hit in the back of the head (by the teacher) with whatever book she had in her hand...and then she'd say something on the line of "oh, I forgot, you don't respect the flag that many people died to defend......"
Netty, Luna2 and everyone else,
Having had a brother in Bethel (yes the same one mentioned above), be assured.......as long as the Williams family can contribute generously (through their Mother most likely), nothing will be said to the girls. Michael Jackson finally sent a letter of withdrawal to the GB they only gave talks from the platform saying his actions at the time were in poor taste, they never df'd him and Prince (yeh kids I know, he changed his name to a sign, but he's going by Prince again) is allowed to record and hang with hollywood, as long as he contributes generously. The GB will take their gold any way they can get it. It has been that way for many, many, many years!
There was a brother in South Jersey a number of years ago that was df'd for gambling......then he won several Million dollars.......his JW family members had no problem with him paying off their debts and the congo had no problem reinstating him, amazingly just before they build a new KH???
My brother served at Bethel and knew Brother Knorr and the Franz's quite well...he went to NYC a true believer in the "truth" and came home tired and disillusioned, our Mother's best friend was married to one of the GB, so we had firsthand knowledge of the attitudes.....and saw how those with assets to be contributed to the WTBTS were cultivated and allowed latitude in their practicing of the "truth"