WATCH: The Powerful Moment the Nashville Airport Screeched to a Halt for the National Anthem
There is no busier time of year than the holiday season for air travel. So to imagine hundreds of busy, stressed people taking a moment to stop and honor the national anthem, especially in the Kaepernick era, is almost laughable.
Or maybe I’ve just gotten too cynical?
Because this is exactly what happened recently at the Nashville International Airport when a flight attendant announced at the gate that they’d be playing the National Anthem, and all the passengers within earshot respectfully stopped what they were doing to stand, hand over heart, and pay their respects to the flag.
“I witnessed an international airport come to a complete stop today,” wrote traveler Jen Tringale on Facebook, in a now-viral post.
The reason why passengers may have shown a distinct respect for the flag that day, Triangle goes on to explain, was who American Airlines was playing it for:
“At the Nashville airport I walked out into the concourse to this scene @americanairlines was flying a plane full of children who had lost a parent in combat to Disneyworld on an all expenses paid trip and they threw a party for them at the gate.”
“But when they announced them over the loud speaker and they lined up to board the plane the whole airport literally stopped and sang the national anthem with military present in salute. Most every person standing around, myself included was bawling at the sight of these kids and spouses who have paid so great a price for our country. To see all of this at Christmas time was so humbling. Seeing the general public in an airport stand still to honor these kids was simply beautiful,” she wrote.
It is difficult to respect our flag or our anthem when the true cost of freedom is staring us so plainly in the face.
It is so heartwarming to see Americans take the time to pay their respects for the children of fallen soldiers and honor the memories of those who sacrificed so much to preserve our priceless liberty.
https://www.facebook.com/JenTringale/videos/2194804327236662/
