Students Learn A Hard Lesson When They Take A Knee During The Anthem
A few years ago, it became common to see football players taking a knee during the national anthem — a silent act of protest that spread from professional teams to local high schools. In 2017, four players at Monroe High School in New Jersey followed that example, kneeling before kickoff in a gesture meant to express their beliefs.
But not everyone agreed with their decision. One of the referees that day, Ernie Lunardelli, had already warned officials before the game: if players took a knee, he would walk off the field. For him, the anthem was a sacred moment of unity and respect. “I’m not in favor of anyone disrespecting our country, our flag, or the armed forces,” he said. “What they’re protesting has nothing to do with the national anthem, so I decided to protest them kneeling — and that’s what I did.”