Nike IHM, a subsidiary of Nike Inc., moved to the Missouri Research Park in 1995 and was honored in 2017 for spending more than two decades in Missouri, according to a news release issued then by the St. Charles County Workforce Development Board.

Nike’s public relations team said in a statement that officials “made the decision to halt distribution of the Air Max 1 Quick Strike Fourth of July based on concerns that it could unintentionally offend and detract from the nation’s patriotic holiday.

“Nike is a company proud of its American heritage and our continuing engagement supporting thousands of American athletes including the US Olympic team and US Soccer teams,” the statement said.

“We already employ 35,000 people in the U.S. and remain committed to creating jobs in the U.S.,” the statement said.

Nike did not say whether the shoe, or parts of the shoe, were manufactured at the St. Charles facility. After this article posted online Tuesday, Hawley called on Nike to apologize for “denigrating the flag” and said the company should manufacture the shoe in St. Charles County.