Democracy Dies in Darkness

Citing shutdown, military won’t participate in NFL Veterans Day events

November is usually filled with “Salute to Service” events featuring the military — but with no government funding, flyovers and honor guards are a no-go this year.

3 min
Former president George W. Bush and former first lady Laura Bush are shown as local Junior ROTC members unfurl a flag before Monday's game between the Arizona Cardinals and Dallas Cowboys in Arlington, Texas. Because of the government shutdown, active-duty service members cannot participate in NFL Salute to Service events in their official capacity this year. (Julio Cortez/AP)
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November NFL games are usually filled with gestures of military appreciation, with helicopter or fighter jet flyovers and hundreds of service members unfurling giant American flags as part of the league’s annual Veterans Day “Salute to Service” celebrations.

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What readers are saying

The comments largely support the Pentagon's decision to cancel military flyovers and honor guards at NFL games, with many expressing that such displays are unnecessary and a waste of taxpayer money. Several commenters, including veterans, criticize the practice as "phony... Show more
This summary is AI-generated. AI can make mistakes and this summary is not a replacement for reading the comments.
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Tara Copp is a national reporter focused on the military and national security. She has covered U.S. military operations across the globe. @TaraCopp
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