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Old Tue Oct 09, 2001, 11:49am
Camron Rust Camron Rust is offline
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Join Date: Aug 1999
Location: In the offseason.
Posts: 12,263
Quote:
Originally posted by Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.
I have been reading the posts about US flags on our officiating uniforms. The first thing that we all should be doing is to read United States Code Title 36, also known as the Flag Code, specically Chapter 10, Section 176(j).

This section states that "no part of the flag should ever be used as a costume or athletic uniform. However, a flag patch may be affixed to the uniform of military personnel, firemen, policemen, and members of patriotic organizations.

Since, athletic teams and officiating organizations are not patriotic organizations, we should not be wearing flag patches on our officiationg uniforms nor should athletic teams be wearing flag patches on their uniforms.

This has nothing about being patriotic or unpatriotic. I just do not think that it is appropriate to wear the flag in such a manner and I think that Flag Code backs up my belief.
I don't think attaching a patch makes it part of the uniform. I read this entire flag code last week and felt that it meant that you shouldn't make the actual uniform resemble the flag---we shouldn't change our black stripes to red and add a field of blue with stars on our backs.

The NF has already approved, in past years, the application of a 2"x3" flag patch on player's uniforms. No one has made an issue of that. Why should it be any different now when the motivation and desire to show allegiance are greater than it has been in decades.



[Edited by Camron Rust on Oct 9th, 2001 at 07:01 PM]
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