American Flags, Rally: Putnam Preps For Event Reacting to Athletes 'Taking A Knee' During National Anthem

PUTNAM COUNTY, NY — Putnam County MaryEllen Odell has ordered the immediate installation of the county’s Row of Honor along Lake Gleneida in Carmel. The Row of Honor is usually on display twice a year in observance of Memorial Day and Veterans Day.

In addition to hundreds of American flags, Odell has asked for the public to join her on the shores of Lake Gleneida at 10 a.m. Sunday for a rally. She will have the national anthem played and together participants can stand in unity for America, she said.

After she made the announcement about the "Stand Up For America" rally, Odell issued a press release in which she cited NFL players' response to President Donald Trump's criticisms about their protests againt racial injustice and police brutality.. The president spoke Friday and then tweeted several times to say that pro athletes making millions of dollars should not be allowed to "disrespect" a national symbol.

Odell said:

On Sunday, Sept. 24, several football teams permitted players to kneel during the National Anthem in protest. Then all but one player of the Pittsburgh Steelers remained in the locker room during the National Anthem. Only Alejandro Villanueva who is the team’s offensive tackle, stood outside of the tunnel entrance and held his hand over his heart. Villanueva is a West Point graduate and a former Army Ranger who served three tours of Duty in Afghanistan and is the recipient of Bronze Star medal for Valor and for Overseas Services.

“This isn’t about race, this is about respect,” said Odell. “Respect for our Veterans. This is about honoring and standing in unity with all those who have sacrificed themselves to protect the safety of others. Standing during the National Anthem is not about anything political. It is about paying respect to all the men and women who have and continue to risk their lives for our freedoms. Freedom isn’t free and the very least one could do is stand for the National Anthem every time it is played.”

It's a different point of view from the NBA champion Golden State Warriors. The team said in a statement, "We believe there is nothing more American than our citizens having the right to express themselves freely on matters important to them."

SEE ALSO:

• Odell Sets Anti-NFL 'Stand For America' Rally
  
• 4th Annual Flag Row of Honor at Lake Gleneida for Veterans Day
  
• Putnam's Flag 'Row Of Honor' To Stay Up Through 4th Of July
  
• Sarah Huckabee Sanders Defends Trump's Use Of Profanity Against NFL Players
• All Eyes On NFL; Players Defy Trump, Protest At Sunday Games
  
• President Trump Attacks Steph Curry, Kaepernick; Gets Major Pushback

PHOTO: American flags about to go up on Gleneida Avenue in Putnam County in response to pro athletes "taking a knee" before football games on Sunday./ Lanning Taliaferro