Working roofers stand for anthem at nearby school

PHOENIX — A photo of three roofers is going viral in the midst of the national anthem debate.

National Football League players have been kneeling during the anthem to protest social injustice.

As the Star Spangled Banner played at the Old Town Waterville football game in Maine on Saturday, several spectators couldn’t help but notice three men beyond the crowd.

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The workers put aside their equipment and took a break from manual labor to join in the pre-game festivities.

The three men, identified by CNN as Dwayne Harrison, Danny Thyng and James Scraggs, placed their hands over their hearts on top of the roof.

Michelle Lyons Cossar, who was at the game to watch her nephew play, took the photo that has been shared more than 3,700 times on Facebook, with more than 2,500 reactions. 

“I saw them standing and respecting the flag even though they didn’t have to,” Cossar told WMTW. “I just thought the world could use a little more of that right now.”

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Harrison, the roofer on the furthest right, told CNN his actions were his natural instinct.

“We were raised to respect and honor our country,” he said. “Instead of making lots of noise during the national anthem, we all reacted together and stood.”

“All I did was snap the picture. They did the amazing thing of standing,” Cossar said.

Follow Cydney Henderson on Twitter: @CydHenderson