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Veteran group releases 'Please Stand' ad rejected by the NFL

Pittsburgh Tribune-Review - 1/31/2018

Jan. 31--The American Veterans, or AMVETS , organization has publicly released the print ad submitted for inclusion in the Super Bowl LII program, but rejected by the National Football League.

The ad features soldiers carrying aloft the American flag with two simple words: "Please stand."

AMVETS National Commander Mation Polk said the organization was invited by the NFL to place an ad in the game program, "but that appreciation quickly gave way to deep disappointment when we learned your staff had refused to publish our ad because of its simple, two-word message --"#PleaseStand."

In a Jan. 22 letter to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, Polk accused the league of hypocrisy for permitting patriotic demonstrations on the field, but not in the Super Bowl program.

"Mr. Goodell, veterans are good for more than just military aricraft flyovers, photo opportunities during halftime, or props to sell camouflage-style NFL apparel," Polk wrote. "Although, the NFL's stance on now allowing the veterans' unfiltered voice to be heard says otherwise."

NFL players protesting racial injustice by kneeling during the National Anthem at NFL games was a source of controversy for much of the 2017 season, with President Donald Trump even making a brief reference to it during his State of the Union address Monday night.

Patrick Varine is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at 724-850-2862, pvarine@tribweb.com or via Twitter @MurrysvilleStar.

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