The 49ers yesterday "celebrated America's military with on-field ceremonies and the unveiling of a special veterans exhibit at the team's museum," according to Elliott Almond of the SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS. However, Museum Dir Jesse Lovejoy "knew how it might have looked to some" as 49ers QB Colin Kaepernick's National Anthem protest has "thrust the team into a controversial debate about respect for the U.S. flag." Lovejoy said of the new museum exhibit, "People may be skeptical but we know where we are and we know why we did it." The temporary exhibit, "Gridiron Heroes: The Stories of 49ers Military Veterans," inspired discussion yesterday about the team's "history of players who served and the consequences of Kaepernick's protest against racial injustice." The 49ers also "unfurled a field-wide American flag held by military personnel during the national anthem and a halftime show paying tribute to the 100th anniversary of the Marine Corps." Kaepernick kneeled during the Anthem yesterday. Almond notes Lovejoy and his team "started planning the presentation almost a year ago as part of the museum's annual rotating exhibit." Last year's display "focused on the Super Bowl." At first, Lovejoy "didn't consider the possible fallout even when Kaepernick was making the cover of Time magazine and helping fuel a conversation about race in America." He said, "We just wanted to tell a great story and give these guys the respect and honor that they deserve." The museum's display "follows the team's trajectory through America's history of conflicts." The 49ers were "born 70 years ago after World War II ended," and all but three members of the inaugural '46 team served. Other players "served during the Korean, Vietnam and the Persian Gulf wars." The exhibit will be on display through the end of the season (SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS, 11/7).
