Last week, a representative of the state American Legion stood before the SAD 36 Board of Directors and chastised three members for not standing during the Pledge of Allegiance.

Veterans made strong arguments that those who fought for and fight for this country are due the show of respect demonstrated by citizens standing in honor of the flag.

Vets are right that each of us owes deep gratitude to everyone who ever fought under the proud flag of the United States, but they are mistaken to force anyone to stand for and recite the Pledge.

This is a free country, made free by patriots who fought for our right to speak, express ourselves and worship freely. Thousands have died over the years to protect these freedoms and our right to exercise them.

Pennsylvania, Minnesota, Colorado and other states have pitched and then defeated rules to make recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance mandatory, recognizing that doing so would encroach on the very freedoms guaranteed in our Constitution.

While it may seem disrespectful not to stand for the Pledge, or to stand but not recite the language, it is not. If anything, the ability of any one person in this country to feel free to stay seated or stay quiet is a demonstration of this nation’s strength and embrace of free expression.

In his remarks to the SAD 36 board, American Legion representative Donald Simoneau described it as a “sad day” in Maine to witness directors choosing not to stand for the Pledge. He’s got it backward.

It’s a sad day when our freedom to express ourselves comes under fire.

School board directors do not have to stand for the Pledge. Schoolchildren do not have to stand for the Pledge. No one in this country can ever be required to stand and recite the Pledge. It is our right not to do so.

That’s what freedom brings.