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Compromise Reached Over Football Team's Plan To Honor Veterans

FORT COLLINS, Colo. (CBS4) – The Poudre School District in Fort Collins says football players at a local high school will not be allowed to feature the names of fallen American veterans on their jerseys, but another type of tribute will be allowed.

After a Tuesday night meeting school district administrators released a statement saying they have given tentative approval to a plan to allow players on the Fossil Ridge High School football team wear "camouflage uniforms with an American flag patch and commemorative patch to honor men and women in the armed services." That will take place on Oct. 15 when the team plays what they are calling a Military Appreciation game.

The district stressed that the request to feature the names of fallen veterans originated from the team's booster club and not the team itself. They cited national and Colorado high school rules in explaining their rejection decision.

The players have been using military training techniques since June to honor military members. The booster club's proposal was initially rejected at an earlier date and last week angry reactions from some parents drew national headlines.

"The public attention that's been brought is in a negative light," said Mary Kay Kennedy of the Fossil Ridge Booster Club. "It's taking away from what we originally wanted to do and what the boys worked for."

Booster Club members at Tuesday's meeting told CBS4 this week's compromise is something they can live with.

"Coach (Brian) Tinker just really wanted these boys to learn about something bigger than themselves. And that was accomplished, and they did, and we're still going to honor the military at the Oct. 15 game, and I think it's going to be a great night," another booster club member said.

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