Paid Patriotism - How the DOD paid NFL teams for flag ceremonies

Truthdig ^ | 9/26/17 | Emma Niles

[RinaseaofDs]

Unfortunately, contrary to the public statements made by DOD and the NFL, the majority of the contracts—72 of the 122 contracts we analyzed—clearly show that DOD paid for patriotic tributes at professional football, baseball, basketball, hockey, and soccer games.

These paid tributes included on-field color guard, enlistment and reenlistment ceremonies, performances of the national anthem, full-field flag details, ceremonial first pitches and puck drops. The National Guard paid teams for the “opportunity” to sponsor military appreciation nights and to recognize its birthday.

It paid the Buffalo Bills to sponsor its Salute to the Service game. DOD even paid teams for the “opportunity” to perform surprise welcome home promotions for troops returning from deployments and to recognize wounded warriors. …

[Ace's Dad]

As I understand it, the effort was for recruiting, in a time when the military was having a “hard time making (recruiting) goals.” I could be wrong.

[Redmen4ever]

Paying for the flag.

Reminds me of the following joke:

A Cardinal approaches the Pope. Your Excellency, there is a representative from the Hershey’s company to see you. He is willing to make, how should I put it, a substantial contribution, if you could see it to have Holy Communion celebrated with a chocolate bar instead of bread.

What are you asking, said the Pope, with a harrumph. Holy Communion is not for sale!

But, your Excellency, we are talking, if I heard him correctly, of as much as $2 billion per years.

$2 billion? Excuse me, but would you get me the Wonder Bread company on the phone.

[2harddrive]

I say, “If they take a knee, give’em the FINGER!!
Bravo NRA, herein: https://youtu.be/z3j1ZKz7PWQ

[Verginius Rufus]

This is an outrage.

I think I will start a class action lawsuit on behalf of the millions of kids who were required to say the pledge of allegiance in school and never were paid for it.