Dear Hockey Fans and Supporters,
You may have heard about a complaint concerning the national anthem and the large American Flag at the west end of the arena. Here are the facts of the matter.
As you all know, the city has installed a brand new, state of the art scoreboard. In an effort to highlight the singing of the national anthem, the Aces decided to test putting the person singing the anthem on the scoreboard along with an animated presentation of the American Flag. This is what was attempted by the Aces on Sunday.
Subsequently, a hockey fan, operated the lanyard that draws the large flag out and back behind the curtain and displayed the Flag. This was not done by anyone associated with the Aces and violated the established protocol of displaying our flag. Knowing that this was not appropriate, an Aces employee drew the flag back behind the curtain.
Because this effort to present the singers of the National Anthem on the new scoreboard along with the animated American Flag caused some consternation amongst our fans, particularly our veterans, and out of respect for the flag, the Anthem and our veterans, we will go no further with this effort. Instead, the Aces will resume and continue with the long standing practices associated with the large flag on the west wall and the singers of the Anthem in the northeast corner of the ice rink.
To the degree that our effort to enhance the singing of our National Anthem and to follow the protocol associated with the display of our flag has offended anyone, we apologize. Further, we hope this explanation of what actually happened demonstrates that the Aces commitment to following protocol and presenting both the flag and the Anthem in an appropriate manner.
Terry Parks
Managing Member
Alaska ACES
