The U.S. military has spent $6.8 million on sports-marketing contracts since 2011 for professional teams to publicly honor soldiers at events, according to a report released Wednesday by Arizona GOP Sens. John McCain and Jeff Flake.
"We’re all enthusiastic to receive our men and women who are serving in uniform honored at various sporting events," McCain said at a news conference on an oversight report on the contracts,
The Los Angeles Times reports. "We are very grateful for that.
"Unfortunately, thanks to an in-depth investigation, a lot of that patriotism was paid for."
The 122 contracts studied were between the Pentagon and the National Guard, according to the report.
Most of them, 72, showed that the Defense Department paid for tributes that included performances of the national anthem, ceremonial first pitches, color-guard presentations, and enlistment ceremonies.
They also included VIP suites and game tickets that would most likely be given to participating troops or recruiters working the events.
"By paying for such heartwarming displays like recognition of wounded warriors, surprise homecomings and on-field enlistment ceremonies, these displays lost their luster," the report said.