I was in Battery Park recently in NYC. The East Coast Memorial is there - honoring the 4,000+ service men who lost their lives in the Atlantic during WWII. Part of the memorial is a very large bronze eagle.

There was a large soccer match being televised by a local restaurant so there was a very festive atmosphere around - people waving flags and such. I don't want to go into those specifics because it doesn't matter per se.

A person climbed up on the bronze eagle and held up their country's flag for a picture. The people they were with were not quite "hooting and hollering" - but they were in a very festive and loud mood.

So: Would you have said something to them - regarding respect for what that was? I'm very non-confrontational. I didn't say anything - but I have to say I was pretty close to. I walked around the back where the person was climbing down and by the time I got there they were off the statue. I honestly do think if another was going to climb up I would have said something.

Have you ever said anything because someone was being disrespectful at a memorial?

Many times....I play TAPS graveside and have chided more than one person on their lack of respect.

Have had to lower the flag to half mast many times myself because the cemetery forgot...getting people to stop blabbering during the service that were not part of the service...various things like that.

Randy

IMO the USA will have to do many things to regain _ _ _ _ _
in the near future.

Fortunately I have not seen this level of disrespect. I do not even take pictures just me but it seems like an intrusion. I do not mind parents quietly explaining to very young children what is going on that is the chance they have to learn.

My nephew used to be in the USN and he got into it big time with a young seaman who was blasting his music on base during the ceremony at sunset.

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Release the Kraken

If they're not TOLD they'll never learn.
Sometimes its our own fault for not speaking out for what's right.
Just a matter of respect.
Either you already have it or you're taught it.

I would have said something. As gently as I could, I would say that what they're doing is disrespectful. There's a high probability in that situation that they don't realize what they're climbing on.

I'm not sure how vehement I'd get about it.

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Freedom isn't free.

There is a you tube video of the Old Guard at the unknown soldier's gravesite. The soldier doing the guarding in a loud and clear voice repremanded the crowd due to their lack of respect and silence. Frank

There's a whole thread on this and people reactions ranged from the guard being a Nazi to WTG guard.

It was noted that the guards have 'levels' of reaction depending on the offense. Some LOLs were doing something and he just asked them to quiet down. Those clowns in the back laughing out loud got the real treatment. I don't know how far these guys are supposed to go in enforcing this. Crossing over the line must make a pretty strong reaction and I'd be that if something serious happened the placed would be flooded with armed soldiers pronto.



In general people think only of themselves.

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"He was kinda funny lookin'"

What makes me angry is when I look across the crowd at a high school sporting event when they are playing the national anthem and see men who don't remove their caps.

If they are near I tap them on the shoulder. I need longer arms.

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I like Ike.

The last parade I was at was a very large one and the sidewalks were full several deep. We'd found a ledge to sit on and when the colors came by I took my hat off and stood up. A lady next to me with small children explained to them they needed to stand and why. I thanked her later but of all the people there we were about the only ones standing and with hats off. I found it pretty pathetic but becoming more common anymore.

Back in 1995, at the beautiful Viet Nam memorial in DC, people were letting their small kids ages 7 and younger to climb on the statues of the servicemen... the guards/Part rangers said nothing to them..........and they were standing in a group nearby shooting the breeze.......oblivious to the damage the kids were causing.... sooner or later an arm will break off..

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be safe,enjoylife,journey well

Oddly enough not really

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Retired Career Security Guard

I'm probably going to take some flack for this but my default setting is MYOB.

I'm not going to change anything and the odds are the person I'm "correcting" couldn't care less and may react violently.

Not my circus, not my monkeys

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Retired Career Security Guard

When attending graduation ceremonies I stood up and placed my hand over my heart and recited the Pledge. The kids in front of me sat and yakked all the way through it. You don't know how bad I wanted to slap them alongside their heads. In retrospect I probably would have gone to jail for assault. Just burns me up when people show such a lack of respect. Frank

Flag etiquette is one of the things that my son learned from Boy Scouts. It makes me feel good when we're at some event and the National Anthem is played and he stands up and removes his hat. And if memory serves me correctly he says he has to tell his friend to remove his hat.

We were at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and the sergeant told all there to stand for the changing of the guard. A few didn't and let me tell you it didn't take long for those that didn't to jump to attention when he rather loudly and quite convincingly told all to stand and remain standing for the changing

My wife and I were looking at a WWII memorial this summer in Savannah. A young girl and her mother walked up to it, and the girl inquisitively read aloud: "World War Eleven." Her mother didn't respond.

My wife asked me why I thought the mother didn't correct her. I told her I doubt she knew any better herself.

I've given up.

I wish I could still believe that was true, more likely, I believe they just don't care...

There's a cultural divide-those that respect and honor service to the country and then the one's who don't-Those who don't, comprise the majority-and that is their right.
We abandoned over 2,000 MIAs/POWs in Vietnam-and congressional hearings ( not long ago) conluded that none of these people were still alive-so the issue was closed-Talk about a disregard for the ultimate sacrfice-Disrespect to memorials, the playing of taps and so on-reflects the values of a great percentage of the public.

I was in DC a couple of weeks ago, and had the privilege of viewing the changing of the guard at the tomb of the unknowns.

As the ceremony began, the Sergeant of the Guard stood at attention and announced in very crisp and authoritative tones that all individuals should stand and observe strict silence during the ceremony.

It's evidently necessary - some folks just don't understand respect.

John

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- Cogito, ergo armatus sum -

I hear ya brother. I'm just trying to hold out hope for humanity. If I allow myself to believe that people have descended that far into complete selfishness, I might fall into deep depression.

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Freedom isn't free.

There's a memorial statue to Detroit Mayor Hazen Pingree on Belle Isle in Detroit. Whenever I take the kids there, I have them climb the statue and sit on his lap for a picture, like Santa Clause. Is that wrong?

As far as what we used to do in the cemetery when we were high school kids.... You don't want to know..... I'd never have the kids climb a war memorial though....

Why is it that the Staff Sgt. has stripes on his sleeves but the other two guys don't? They're not officers or warrants, are they? If not, why no stripes??

Never mind...figured it out:

He said, "Please and spoke in a loud clear voice so that people can hear. With the wind blowing it takes the sound away. And it was a no-nonsense tone, not commanding or threatening. I have not problem with it. I do believe that they step up levels of 'correction' as per each incident requires. Like I said, he was almost personal and quiet when saying something to two LOLs.

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"He was kinda funny lookin'"

There are other traditions with the guards at the tomb. While walking the mat, the guard walks exactly 21 steps - to emulate the 21-gun salute, the highest honor paid. Also, the rifle is always on the outside shoulder from the tomb itself.

I also noticed that the M14 rifles have had their pistol grips removed, giving the stocks an unusual skinny look. The Sergeant of the guard packs an M9 pistol with wooden grips. One wonders if it is kept loaded.

Another thing I noticed. While standing at attention, the guards keep their feet together, pointed straight ahead. In the Army, we were taught from the very beginning to keep our feet heels together, but at an angle, thus giving better stability.

John

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- Cogito, ergo armatus sum -

From https://tombguard.org/society/faq/

I'm going out on a limb here and saying that not only are they all carrying loaded guns, but that they are proficient in their operation.

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Freedom isn't free.

I looked up several memorials then went to the Vietnam Vets Memorial. I viewed the wall. I viewed the very poignant statue of the three soldiers. Then I viewed the Women's Memorial and I'm going to have to stop typing because I'm about to lose it.

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"He was kinda funny lookin'"

The Vietnam Wall area is very poignant, and I understand your reaction. I about lost it when I had a rubbing done of the name of one of my best high school friends; I couldn't hold back the tears. Many who were there at the time were also visibly moved in a similar way. The enormity of the wasted lives really came home.

Here are some shots I took during my visit with the WWII Honor Flight vets.

John

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- Cogito, ergo armatus sum -

It is not just a problem here. A few years ago my wife and I were at Auschwitz on Christmas Eve. We were practically alone and hadn't seen anyone in a long while. We were viewing the gas chambers. They have signs in almost every language that asks for silence out of respect for the 100's of thousands of people murdered in those rooms. In walk two twenty-something German women, arm in arm laughing and joking without a care in the world.

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No good deed goes unpunished.