High school football player's act of patriotism goes viral: 'I know he's been raised right'

A North Carolina high school student has gone viral after he was caught honoring the national anthem in a parking lot, WGHP reports.

Jacob Pope, a junior at South Davidson High School, in Denton, was purportedly walking to football practice when he heard the national anthem being played before the girls' softball game. The high school student paused to listen to the anthem before going on his way.

"No one was there," Pope said. "I just stopped because it was the right thing to do."

Pope said he wasn't aware that there was also a teacher in the lot. She took a picture and asked his mother if she could share it on her Facebook.

"She wanted to point out what a proud moment and how special he was for doing something like that when no one was looking," Pope's mother Lauren said.

The post reportedly got over 1,000 shares and likes, with comments from many praising the junior for his patriotism.

"'God bless this boy.' 'I know he's been raised right.' 'Awesome kid,'" Jacob said when asked to read some of the comments.

Since the photo has gone viral, Lauren said she's been overwhelmed by the response.

"It makes me tear up quite often just reading some of the positive things people have said about his character," she said.

"Character is what you do when no one is looking," she added. "He defines that."