It was March like weather at one of the games I attended this week, but the stadium looked great, the grass thick and green and I expected that the teams would be somewhat evenly matched. At one point, however, it looked like the visiting team’s fans would outnumber the home team fans, but as game time approached, that changed.

In this particular stadium, like many others in the area, an all weather track surrounds the field and on this day the track team was still practicing during the lacrosse warm ups. It always make me a bit nervous when lacrosse players are shooting and the runners are in the area, but in many years, for some reason, the track team members seem to keep from getting hit.

As the warm ups concluded the home team lined up and began to take their helmets off, indicating that, at this game, the National Anthem would be played. I am surprised how often it is not played, as I would think it is an opportunity that no home team would want to miss.

Some schools play recordings of students playing or singing the Anthem, but at this school it was an orchestral rendition and as it started, the lacrosse players and fan came to attention and faced the flag that was waving in the breeze. Men removed their hats and some placed their hat or hand over their heart.

At that point, standing near the track I was surprised by a runner who jogged past me and toward his coach who was standing on the track between me and the flag pole. I assumed that the coach would admonish the young man and that they would both come to attention for the Anthem. They did not, and instead continued to talk as though the playing of the National Anthem did not apply to them.

I have to admit that I had a great deal of trouble trying to concentrate on my task as my eye kept wandering from the flag to the track coach and the runner. By the time the Anthem was done, I was pretty wound up but decided that I would have a “teachable moment”, at least for the coach. As I was preparing an appropriate opening line, one that I hoped would not be too aggressive, I noticed that they were both gone.

I think it’s safe to say that neither one would be reading this column, but I need to say it anyway. When you hear the National Anthem playing, it doesn’t much matter what you are doing. Stop. Face the flag. Stand at attention and honor our country.

See you at the games.