Patriotic Pizza Man

[speyeder]

Fayetteville — A Fayetteville man felt that when he had a choice — pizza or patriotism — there was no choice. He went with country over commerce.

The Crown Coliseum told Joe Waters that he had to keep passing out pizza when the national anthem was being played during events. Waters had been selling Spinners pizza at a concession stand, but he and his people would stop and stand at attention during the playing of the Star-Spangled Banner.

Customers had to wait, and Waters said no one complained.

"We would stand aside and stand in attention and honor the playing," said Waters, whose full-time job is being a truck mechanic.

It went that way until one night as a FireAntz hockey game was about to begin. Somebody from the coliseum said Waters could not interrupt business for the national anthem.

Link to article >> http://www.wral.com/news/local/story/1377002/

I sent an e-mail using the "Contact Us" on Crown Coliseums Website after reading the statement Rick Reno (Chief Operations Officer for the coliseum) offered because it screamed corporate weeny and that always puts a soap box under my feet! 

Here is a copy:

I think those in charge of the crown coliseum need to learn something from Joe Waters example. If you are going to play the national anthem in your building, ALL that are present should be allowed to honor it and stand with their right hand over their hearts. Stadium concessions stands charge such outrageous prices these days that there is no way they could be losing money for the 90 second period their operation would be paused for the anthem. It is about patriotism, and appreciating the freedom we enjoy that others have fought and died for. Let the vendors pause and show their spirit when the anthem is played because it is the right thing to do.

[Ed]

Well said, Spey - capitalism can and should wait for some things, and if the guy wants to stop and pay his respects he damn well should be allowed to without getting hassle from upstairs