PSD Superintendent Sandra Smyser looks on as Fossil Ridge Principal Will Allen speaks Thursday. PSD denied that request, saying the names of fallen military personnel were not allowed on school jerseys.
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“So the Fossil Ridge High School football team will be wearing camouflage jerseys and camouflage trousers at a special game in honor of military recognition”, said Edie Eckles, a spokeswoman with the Poudre Valley School District. Thus, the district does not support any one cause over another.
CHSAA permits the names of corporate sponsors to appear on high school athletic uniforms.
However the rules do not directly prohibit home teams from displaying a different name within the body of the uniform. They hoped to memorialize fallen service members by having players were their last names across the back of their uniforms in place of their own names. He also required them to research the family and background of a deceased member of the U.S. armed forces.
The team wanted to honor the fallen soldiers by putting their names across the back of the jerseys.
The American Civil Liberties Union of Colorado has no problem with the district’s decision to deny the team’s request. The uniforms were purchased by the high school booster club.
As such, the district and school are working to find ways to honor military heroes.
The Coloradoan report on the district’s decision was picked up by state and national media outlets, including The Associated Press.
“We regret that the intentions of the district and school were misconstrued and mischaracterized as unpatriotic”.
A representative for Fossil Ridge High School did not immediately respond to a request for comment from TheBlaze. “And the freedom that we have has been fought for through the blood and the sacrifice of those who we’re honoring”, said Russell. “PSD has more red tape than any of them combined”.
The controversy came just after the team went through three months of military education.
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Reardon said he didn’t ask for district permission ahead of time.
