Fans have become accustomed to hearing the National Anthem played before the start of sports events.

It’s typically a recording played over the loud speakers as fans and players stand with hats removed and hands on hearts. But in Big Lake, it’s taken to another level.  

Over past few years, members of the Big Lake American Legion Color Guard have performed a flag ceremony before every American Legion Baseball game.

“I know Big Lake did it a long time ago and it kind of tapered off a little bit,” says Legion Vice Commander Doug Schultz. “Now for the last two or three years we’ve tried to make it to every home game.”

In order to hold the flag ceremony, they have to have a minimum of three members.

“We have to carry the American Flag and carry two rifles to protect on either side,” says Schultz. “We go up to five usually because we also carry the Legion Flag and the POW Flag”.   

Sometimes if there are six members, there is a cadence caller in the back.

Schultz says the group doesn’t meet at the Legion Club before the game, but send texts to each other to communicate. Then they meet at the ballfield.

“We have a core group of people who do this and have been doing it for a couple of years,” he says.

Just before every home game, players from both teams line up on the first and third base lines. Then the Color Guard walks from the sidelines to a spot in the infield and turns to present the flag to the crowd and players.

The Flag is held at attention throughout the playing of the National Anthem.

“Then we march back out and are dismissed,” says Schultz.

He says other legions have performed the ceremony at their home games.

“But I don’t know of any that do it as consistently as us,” he says. “And we do get a lot of people coming up and saying thank you. It’s nice to see so many people respecting the flag.”