Many not instructed on flag etiquette

Regarding Maureen Kern's Jan. 28 letter: “Judge girl athletes on their play, not anthem”:

I don't know the circumstances to which the writer referred but she assumed the girls' team members, coaches, parents and crowd knew the proper etiquette to be used during the ceremony. Ms. Kern, you give too much credit to our civilian population, educators and politicians! Most people today do not know nor have they been instructed as to the proper etiquette required during the national anthem or for the proper respect to be shown to our flag.

When you have educators who despise and abnegate the display of our flag or who deny our children the right to recite the Pledge of Allegiance in our schools, you invite an ill-mannered display. When no one denounces the flagrant disrespect shown by many of using the flag as apparel or an advertising backdrop, or allowing a worn flag to be displayed, or not rendering the proper salute during the anthem, are all disrespectful to our flag, our country and the men and women who gave their lives in its defense.

Harold Goodrich

Mount Vernon