To the Colors

[Subdeacon Joe]

 

 

[Forty Rod SASS 3935]

When and where I grew up everyone, military and civilian, stopped and paid tribute to the colors.

 

Younger people called anyone their seniors "sir" or "ma'am".

Over the years and places not as respectful as I was used to, this all faded away....until we moved to Arizona.

 

It's not uncommon to be addressed as "sir", hear ladies called "ma'am" or "miss", have doors held open for you and so on.

 

When was the last time you saw a man take his hat off or at least tip it to a lady?

 

It's all pretty common here and I LOVE it.  It brings back good memories and makes me feel good.

[Caprock Kid]

🫡 I remember when every car stopped when retreat was played.  You got out of your car and rendered honors. Even civilians stopped and waited (most got out too).  Now people hope to get put the gate before it starts. 

[Alpo]

I saw a video, a few years back. Kids playground on a base somewhere. And they're all running around and playing tag and climbing on the monkey bars and whatever.

 

Then Evening Colors sounds.

Every kid on the playground immediately stops what he's doing and they all turn in the same direction and they're standing at attention.

I saw one with Robin Williams doing a show over in the sandbox. I don't know if he did this because he thought it was the right thing to do, or if it simply because his audience did it. But he's right in the middle of a routine and Colors starts.

And his whole audience stood up and turned around and were standing at attention.

And he immediately shut up, and faced the same way they were and stood at attention.