North America

The only Steelers member to stand for the national anthem is a 1st Ranger Battalion veteran

by Jack Murphy

After President Donald Trump said that any NFL member who does not stand for the national anthem should be fired, the Steelers decided to make a counter-statement by staying in the locker room during the national anthem.  The players didn’t have any issue with the anthem itself, but were making a statement that the president should not be telling them what to do on or off the field.

Alejandro Villanueva was the single member of the team who broke ranks and came out onto the field to stand for the national anthem.  After graduating from West Point, Villanueva served as a Platoon Leader in 10th Mountain Division and then attended the Ranger Orientation Program (ROP) and made the cut, going on to become a Platoon Leader in 1st Ranger Battalion.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4HR6fhif9CU

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After President Donald Trump said that any NFL member who does not stand for the national anthem should be fired, the Steelers decided to make a counter-statement by staying in the locker room during the national anthem.  The players didn’t have any issue with the anthem itself, but were making a statement that the president should not be telling them what to do on or off the field.

Alejandro Villanueva was the single member of the team who broke ranks and came out onto the field to stand for the national anthem.  After graduating from West Point, Villanueva served as a Platoon Leader in 10th Mountain Division and then attended the Ranger Orientation Program (ROP) and made the cut, going on to become a Platoon Leader in 1st Ranger Battalion.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4HR6fhif9CU

About Jack Murphy View All Posts

Jack served as a Sniper and Team Leader in 3rd Ranger Battalion and as a Senior Weapons Sergeant on a Military Free Fall team in 5th Special Forces Group. Having left the military in 2010, he graduated from Columbia with a BA in political science. Murphy is the author of Reflexive Fire, Target Deck, Direct Action, and Gray Matter Splatter. His memoir, "Murphy's Law" is due for a 2019 release and can be pre-ordered now.

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