Marketing the military

We are becoming a nation of business, nothing else matters. We have seen it with colleges, hospitals, law firms and a heck of a lot of what used to be thought of as professions. Today we learn that our wonderful Pentagon has spent $53 million in the past three years on questionable marketing contracts with sports teams, including events to honor American soldiers at games as a recruitment strategy. 

Some of the deals: 

• $700,000 went to the New England Patriots for the recognition of a Massachusetts Army National Guard soldier at each home game as part of a “true patriot” promotion, among other costs.
• The Boston Bruins received $280,000 for a national anthem performance and color guard and reenlistment ceremony and other items such as a luxury box for 18 people and an executive view suite for 25 on a military appreciation night. 
•  The Boston Celtics received $195,000 in part to spotlight soldiers at home games. 

Many of these deals included game tickets, the use of team facilities and on-field recognition of high school football players and coaches.

Now, the Pentagon has said it would put an end to this type of marketing.