Not sure if that has changed, either. My parents are dyed in the wool J W s also—in their mid eighties and shunning me for leaving the cult in my early 40s. As a kid, we would be excused from the pledge, anthem, birthday, Easter, Xmas and Halloween parties. Spent most of my school year in the library—then 2 hours at night reading at the kingdom hall (church). The premise is that you shouldn’t be loyal to any country but only to God.
IF you attended a public event, the trick was to be seated AFTER the pledge/anthem so as not to draw attention.
I learned that trick early on as well. Most of my classmates didn’t care though,at least as far as can remember,
But I do remember my mother telling me that the org. was tweaking its stance on the Pledge and we were allowed to stand, the idea being that remaining seated could be mistaken as a sign of disrespect or defiance toward our govt.
Just out of curiosity,were you baptized in the faith?