The photo of a 97-year-old World War Ii veteran is going viral after he took a knee in support of the national anthem protests in the NFL.
- Detroit Lions players take a knee during national anthem
- Lions Owner Martha Ford: 'We do not support' Trump's call to fire NFL players
- Pittsburgh Steeler and former US Army Ranger stands for national anthem by himself
- Several NFL owners denounce Trump's statements
- President Donald Trump says NFL players kneeling is "not acceptable"
The photo, tweeted by Brennan Gilmore, shows his 97-year-old grandfather and Missouri farmer on one knee with the caption, "those kids have every right to protest."
My grandpa is a 97 year-old WWII vet & Missouri farmer who wanted to join w/ those who #TakeaKnee: "those kids have every right to protest." pic.twitter.com/LurCj7SLUB
— Brennan Gilmore (@brennanmgilmore) September 24, 2017
The Springfield News Leader caught up with the man, identified as John Middlemas, on Sunday after the tweet went viral.
"I wanted to communicate what I always told to my grand-kids and everybody else," he told The Springfield News Leader. When they'd go to bed at night, we'd tell the kids we wanted to be like Jesus."
The photo is in response to President Donald Trump's statements on the protests, saying the NFL and its owners should fire the players who don't take a knee for the anthem.
