Unlike its “professional” counterpart in the National Football League, the national anthem performed jointly by the student glee clubs of their respective military academies at the 119th annual Army-Navy game on Saturday afternoon in Philadelphia yielded no kneelers.
“[There was] such a sense of pride and patriotism,” said Mary Alice Heimerl of Holland, New Jersey, whose husband, Karl, is a 1983 Naval Academy graduate.
Her son, a 2012 graduate, is a naval aviator attached to the USS Ronald Reagan.
“The pageantry never grows old,” she added.
“You’ll never see kneeling. The culture doesn’t support that type of entitled display.”
Heimerl was among the Navy fans at the Philadelphia game at Lincoln Financial Field who caught a glimpse of President Donald Trump, as well as Defense Secretary James “Mad Dog” Mattis, both of whom were at the game.
President Trump, the 10th sitting president to attend the Army-Navy game, officiated the coin toss — tails — which resulted in the Navy’s opting to kick off.
The president sat first between Mark Esper, secretary of the Army, and the current chief of the Army, Gen. Mark Milly.
Then, in the customary show of impartiality, he switched sides at halftime to sit between Vice Adm. Ted Carter Jr. and Secretary of the Navy Richard V. Spencer, as the Associated Press noted.
Trump Cheered by Patriotic Crowd at Army-Navy Game (Video) https://t.co/vo16RZZb4a
— Katrina Pierson (@KatrinaPierson) December 9, 2018
“It was thrilling to be among others who recognized being part of a greater good. There is no other experience that even comes close,” Heimerl said of the event.
The anthem followed a prayer and tribute to George H.W. Bush, who was laid to rest last week.
the Army’s Black Knights scored their third straight victory against the Navy’s Midshipmen, with a final score of 17 to 10.
American football was not alone this weekend as far as delivering stunning renditions of the national anthem.
Seven-year-old Malea Emma, who made headlines with her jaw-dropping anthem rendition at an LA Galaxy game last September, wowed the crowds once again at Major League Soccer’s MLS Cup finals on Saturday in Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Malea Emma burst into the national spotlight with her incredible rendition of the national anthem before an LA Galaxy game.
She crushed it AGAIN ahead of MLS Cup. pic.twitter.com/yhv46xQBZw
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) December 9, 2018
#MLSCup just kicked off, but the best performance of the night has already happened. Malea Emma FTW! ?
(via @FoxSports) pic.twitter.com/B3D3ORVEo1
— Planet Fútbol (@si_soccer) December 9, 2018
Thank you again @MLS ? #mlscup https://t.co/ggcDV7uFOw
— Malea Emma (@MaleaEmma) December 9, 2018
"When they play the National Anthem all of the students salute — if you don’t get a chill, there’s something wrong." – @MilitaryTimes ?? #Service #GoArmy #SingSecond #ArmyNavyGame
— John James (@JohnJamesMI) December 8, 2018
The Army-Navy joint rendition of the National Anthem is perhaps the most beautiful rendition you will ever hear.
It will give you chills ??
God bless America.
God bless the young, kickass men and women of our Armed Forces. pic.twitter.com/rfIIXueTrp
— Benny (@bennyjohnson) December 8, 2018
Retweet your PRIDE 4 Our Flag??& National Anthem sung by @WestPoint_USMA @NavalAcademy?Glee Clubs at #ArmyNavy Football ? Classic on @CBSSports!@DeptofDefense @USNavy @USArmy @USMC @USAirForce @USCG with Commander-in-Chief @POTUS @realDonaldTrump honoring @GeorgeHWBush ??? pic.twitter.com/qbhgnoAscJ
— Oliver McGee PhD MBA (@OliverMcGee) December 8, 2018
Michele Blood is a Flemington, New Jersey-based freelance writer and regular contributor to LifeZette.
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