Four teenage boys on their way to a high school football game in Michigan stopped to honor the national anthem – and a photo of their patriotic act has gone viral on social media.
Mike Ullery Jr of Troy, Ohio posted an image on his Facebook page showing the boys stand in the middle of the parking lot at Bullock Creek High School in Midland County, Michigan.
They took their hats off and saluted the flag as the Star Spangled Banner played in the background on Friday.
Ullery, who was pleasantly surprised by their patriotism, took out a camera and snapped the photo.
Mike Ullery Jr of Troy, Ohio posted an image on his Facebook page showing the boys stand in the middle of the parking lot at Bullock Creek High School in Midland County, Michigan
‘I was impressed by these Bullock Creek boys, Ullery wrote on his Facebook page.
‘Running late to the game they heard the national anthem and stopped, took off their hats and placed hands over heart!’
‘Respect,’ read the caption, which included an emoji of a heart as well as the American flag.
As of Monday night, the photo has generated more than 1,000 likes and more than 1,000 shares.
‘I was just proud of them, so I just snapped a picture and hoped it would get back to them when I posted it on Facebook,’ Ullery told CBS News.
Since the photo was posted on Facebook, Ullery has been in contact with the boys.
‘I had no idea who they were,’ he told CBS News.
‘I didn’t find out who they were until they commented on my Facebook post.’
A number of parents whose children attend Bullock Creek replied to Ullery’s post and identified the boys by name – Dakota Lehner, Mikiah Lehner, Taylor Cox, and Collin Hitchingham.
The post elicited largely positive reactions.