Neal McCoy told viewers on Newsline that patriotism is not a partisan hobby but a duty, and he proved it with action long before TV cameras started covering his remarks. For more than half a decade — in fact for years now — McCoy has made saying the Pledge of Allegiance a morning ritual, livestreaming it to thousands who join him to start the day with unity and respect for the flag. That steady, unglamorous devotion should shame the performative virtue-signaling we see from many in Hollywood who hide from the very symbols that bind us.
This is not a celebrity stunt; it is a discipline. McCoy has been consistent in his habit of reciting the pledge publicly and inviting others to participate, a small act that brings people together in an age when elites prefer division and outrage. Ordinary Americans — veterans, blue-collar workers, moms and dads — find comfort in that simple display of allegiance, because it affirms what we know: love of country is the common ground that built this nation.
When McCoy pushed back against anthem protests with his blunt patriotic anthem, critics rushed in to tear him down, proving the point he was making about a cultural elite that will vilify anyone who refuses to kneel. The song and his public stance drew both cheers and jeers, but it exposed who truly respects the flag and who uses protest as a prop to score cultural points. There is nothing un-American about asking for common decency during the anthem; demanding respect for those who served and sacrificed is the highest form of patriotism.
Make no mistake: McCoy’s patriotism is rooted in service and gratitude, not politics. He has entertained troops on USO tours and has repeatedly said his actions are meant to honor those who paid the price for our freedoms, not to score ratings or curry favor with any party. That kind of character — humility, gratitude, reverence for the flag — is exactly what the country needs more of, not less.
The bigger story here is cultural: the left has tried to take our national symbols hostage and turn respect for country into a political liability. Honest Americans should reject that cynical calculus. We should celebrate people like Neal McCoy who remind us that loving America is normal, decent, and necessary, and who keep showing up day after day to say what used to be uncontroversial.
If you’re tired of the constant pitting of Americans against one another, take a page from McCoy’s book — start your day by honoring what unites us and refuse to let politics eat the things that matter most. Stand up, put your hand over your heart, and insist that patriotism be restored to its rightful place in our culture: above the noise, above the punditry, and in the lives of everyday people who still believe in America.
