Fans disrespectful to anthem

This is an open letter to Spokane Chiefs hockey fans: Please stop yelling “Chiefs!” at the end of our national anthem.

I, too, am a sports fan. I root for my teams as fervently as anyone. However, I’m also a United States Air Force Staff Sergeant and a member of the Fairchild Air Force Base Honor Guard. Yelling “Chiefs!” instead of singing “brave” shows a lack of respect for our country, our flag and those of us in uniform. The proper protocol is to stand facing the flag with your hand over your heart or at attention until the entire national anthem is sung.

I’m urging all military and non-military units involved in the honor of presenting the colors to respectfully decline to do so until the Chiefs fans demonstrate the proper protocol. I’m asking all Chiefs fans to please point out to anyone yelling “Chiefs!” that this is not respectful and to refrain from such conduct.

I realize not all the fans participate in this “tradition.” I thank those who have enough respect for our country and our military, past and present, to properly sing our national anthem.

SSgt. Kevin Grazette

Fairchild AFB