Every sporting event, from high school matches to the professional leagues, plays the national anthem beforehand to honor our nation. Sometimes it’s just an instrumental version, and other times singers step up to perform the iconic lyrics before hundreds of thousands of people.
But at this high school in Johnston, Pennsylvania, a man in the stands stood up and sang it himself. According to Now This, the school’s regular national anthem singer couldn’t attend a girls’ high school soccer game. So, soccer dad Mark Lux started singing it himself, right there in the middle of the stands.
“When the typical national anthem singer was unable to attend a high school soccer game, one dad stepped up to fill the void — and absolutely crushed it. Mark Lux’s impromptu performance was posted to TikTok, where it’s received 4M+ views as of September 27,” Now This wrote on Twitter.
See the video of Lux singing for yourself below. You’ll see him in the light blue sweatshirt about three people down from the person filming.
Did anyone else expect him to just belt out an incredible performance like that? Apparently not. Lux spoke to the local Pennsylvania newspaper The Tribune-Democrat about his last-minute national anthem performance.
“I was already standing, filming my daughter, and I said ‘Why don’t we just sing it?’ ” he told the outlet.
The Tribune-Democrat reported that another soccer parent, Jayne Hanuska, filmed Lux’s singing of the national anthem. She and all the other parents cheered for Lux as soon as he finished.
“We need more people like Mark in the world today,” Hanuska said.
Soccer Dad Who Sings National Anthem Served in the U.S. Navy
Honoring the United States with the national anthem before every game means a lot to Mark Lux. According to The Tribune-Democrat, he served in the U.S. Navy, one of many military service members in his family.
After the announcer said no one was available to sing the national anthem, Lux decided he would start singing in the stands, hoping the rest of the crowd would join in. But they stood silent as the veteran belted out the powerful song.
“It was the most nervous I’ve ever been in my entire life,” Lux said.
Luckily, he’s no stranger to singing and performing. Per the outlet, Lux sings with different acoustic groups in the Johnston, Pennsylvania area. They include Unplugged, Train Stop 6, and Lux and Company. Lux’s melodic voice can also be heard in commercials for Best Windows and Doors, where he works.
But singing the national anthem meant more to Lux than anything he’s performed before. Once upon a time, the veteran asked his father why the song’s played before every sporting match.
“It’s a story of true Americans that have never given up,” his dad replied. Lux has carried those words to heart ever since.
“That’s the spirit that you want your teammates to have,” Lux said. “Never, ever give up and continue to fight.”
