Yes to this completely. Well said and thank you. 
"I think that they chose the wrong place to protest, NOT because I don't think they should be able to protest, but because of what I said earlier. The reason they are protesting has been lost in the rush to politicize it."

 I see this too:  "at bars or at a friend's house, too often, the anthem comes on and it is time to hit the bathroom, get another beer, or continue the chat before the game."

I try so hard to nurture respect for our country and for our military.

This I enjoyed reading by Broncos’ Derek Wolfe and why he did so btw. Maybe you will too.
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Fox 31 news - Wolfe told ESPN in a statement before the game he would not kneel because “paying tribute to the men and women who have given their lives for our freedom is why I stand.”
“Everyone these days likes to find a reason to protest and that’s their right,” he added...
http://kdvr.com/2017/09/25/broncos-derek-wolfe-says-he-stood-for-anthem-for-the-men-who-died-in-real-battle/