FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 29, 2018 CONTACT Greg Stielstra greg.stielstra@gmail.com 615-812-3821 Franklin, TN ​ Nashville songwriter to donate proceeds from new song to AmVets to help compensate for the NFL’s rejection of its Super Bowl ad Greg Stielstra announced today that he will donate proceeds from sales of his song  I Stand  to the AmVets national headquarters. Donations will include all revenue generated by sales through iTunes between January 29 and February 28, 2018. Stielstra wrote and produced the song hoping it would help resolve NFL anthem protests, but saw an opportunity to help servicemen and women when the NFL rejected the fundraising ad AmVets planned to run in the Super Bowl program. “I had other plans for the song, but called an audible. I thought it was unfair of the NFL to allow its players to kneel for the anthem, but reject the AmVets ad politely asking people to #PleaseStand,” Stielstra said, “Especially when th...

Colin Kaepernick began sitting for the anthem to protest racial inequality and police brutality. Ironically, if he had understood how the anthem supported civil rights through the years, he might have chosen to protest differently.  THE BEGINNING - America's struggle for independence from England did not end in 1776.  It was won incrementally over many years and nearly lost during the War of 1812.  In August of 1814 the British army marched into Washington DC and set fire to the capitol building and White House. Their next target was the vital seaport of Baltimore whose harbor was protected by Fort McHenry.  If it fell, the future of our new nation would be in doubt. The entire British fleet assembled off shore and bombarded Fort McHenry with canons and rockets for 25 hours.  Francis Scott Key, an American lawyer and amateur poet had gone aboard a British warship to negotiate a prisoner exchange when the bombardment began and remained on board all night....

Sharing AmVets Release Re: #PleaseStand NFL Rejects AMVETS Super Bowl ad requesting that people ‘Please Stand’ AMVETS National Headquarters, Jan. 22, 2018  – The National Football League, amid controversy surrounding its players kneeling in protest during the National Anthem, has refused to run  an ad by American Veterans (AMVETS)  in the official Super Bowl program because of its simple, two-word message – “Please Stand.” In a January 22 letter to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell , AMVETS National Commander Marion Polk wrote, “freedom of speech works both ways. We respect the rights of those who choose to protest, as these rights are precisely what our members have fought — and in many cases died — for. But imposing corporate censorship to deny that same right to those veterans who have secured it for us all is reprehensible and totally beyond the pale.” The same ad was accepted by both the NHL and NBA and is slated to run in the official programs for eac...

Do More Than Stand. Take Steps. Do you wish NFL players stood for the national anthem?  Are you sad that their protest makes it seem patriotism and social justice are at odds when they're not?  Wish you could do something about it?  You can. Here are ways you can promote I Stand and its message. 1. Share the I Stand lyric video on your social media.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hh9tUn1Q-2U 2.  Like and then SHARE the I Stand Song Facebook page. 3. Send an email to your contacts telling them about I Stand.  Invite them to visit the website at  https://istandsong.blogspot.com/ to hear the song, watch the music video and learn more. 4. Buy a copy of the song, give it to your local high school and suggest they play it during pregame warm ups before sporting events as a reminder to stand when the anthem is played. It's available on iTunes.  http://itunes.apple.com/album/id1332181131?ls=1&app=itunes 5. Share the link to b...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 1/09/2018 The NFL anthem protests began over a song and now a Nashville songwriter and football fan hopes his new song can bring them to an end.  Greg Stielstra (“STEEL-struh”) wrote I Stand to mend the rift between NFL players and fans and restore respect for our anthem.  The song pays tribute to military veterans and civil rights pioneers and makes the point that standing for the anthem honors everyone who sacrificed for American values of equality and justice.   “The players fight against racial discrimination and police brutality is a worthy cause, but their protest method is misguided because fans can't support it without disrespecting our country.” said Stielstra. “But that’s a false choice. America stands for equality and when we stand for the anthem, we do too. Racial discrimination is the work of people behaving in an un-American way. That means players can best support their cause by standing.” Stielstra produced the ...

The Super Bowl is the largest spectacle of the year. 100+ million people around the world will be watching. NBC said it will televise any players that disrespect the anthem. Will players use the platform to celebrate their commitment to American values of equality, liberty and justice for all by standing for the anthem? Will they honor both military veterans and civil rights pioneers by placing their hand over their heart? Or, will they continue to divide our nation and alienate their fans by refusing to stand? I'd like to know. So let's ask. Super Bowl participants will be decided in the conference championship games January 21st. Once we know who's playing, I'd like fans to tweet every player on both teams with a message like this. "When you stand for the anthem you honor military vets AND civil rights pioneers while calling all Americans to the values of equality and justice.  Will you stand for the anthem Super Bowl Sunday? If you will, tweet #IStand....

They sailed on a collision course with evil They fought on bloody beaches far from home They died in trenches cold and lonely And now they lie in endless rows beneath white stones So, I stand when I hear that beautiful anthem And I remember what those heroes did for me I hold my hand over my heart and count my blessings Because I know my freedom wasn’t free And it may be a small thing, but it’s how I say thank you If they ever look from heaven down to me, they’ll see I stand They marched from Selma to Montgomery They walked through angry night sticks and tear gas They sang we shall overcome And they dreamed great God almighty free at last So, I stand when I hear that beautiful anthem And I remember what those heroes did for me I hold my hand over my heart and count my blessings Because I know my freedom wasn’t free And it may be a small thing, but it’s how I say thank you If they ever look from heaven down to me, they’ll see I stand America’s not perfect yet, I know And we still ha...