Barrack Obama raised more than a few eyebrows when he did not cross his heart at the singing of the national anthem recently in Iowa. Most times he does lay his right hand over his heart. In fact, he has frequently been observed singing, or at least reciting, the anthem along with the principal singers at events.
Is this really a major concern? As noted by Anne Garside, the Maryland Historical Society's Director of Communication, "Modern custom does not require a hand over the heart. I think the bottom line is that you show respect with your demeanor. Whether you put your hand over your heart, hold your hat at shoulder level or waist level, is really in this day and age irrelevant."
If he was being unpatriotic then he was being no more so than many other Americans. Scan the crowd at most sporting events during the playing of our national anthem. You will see hundreds, and even thousands at larger events, that forget to face the flag and place their hands over their hearts. Quite a few men don't even remove their hats, which is also required by the U.S. Flag Code.
