Military jets fly over an American Flag stretching over the entire football field prior to the game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, Maryland on September 11, 2011. UPI/Roger L. Wollenberg | License Photo

A Seattle Seahawks fans waves a U.S. Flag during Military Appreciation Day during the game against the New York Jets at CenturyLink Field in Seattle, Washington on November 11, 2012.. UPI/Jim Bryant | License Photo

Army units from Fort Carson high five fans just before halftime of the Pittsburgh Steelers-Denver Broncos Monday Night Footlball game at Invesco Field at Mile High in Denver on November 9, 2009. The four branches of the military were honored at halftime for service to our country. UPI/Gary C. Caskey... | License Photo

Military jets fly over prior to the game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, Maryland on September 11, 2011. UPI/Roger L. Wollenberg | License Photo

Members of the military carry American flags onto the field during team introductions at Sports Authority Field at Mile High on November 18, 2012 in Denver. The Denver Broncos honored the armed services during the halftime activities. UPI/Gary C. Caskey | License Photo

U.S. Marines high five fans during the military appreciation half time at Sports Authority Field at Mile High on November 17, 2013 in Denver. UPI/Gary C. Caskey | License Photo

Military soldiers watch from the sidelines as a Philadelphia Eagles cheerleader performs during the Washington Redskins-Philadelphia Eagles game at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia on November 17, 2013. The soldiers were on the field as part of a Veterans Day celebration. UPI/John Anderson | License Photo

A large flag is held by members of the military and players from the Chicago Bulls and Cleveland Cavaliers during the singing of the national anthem before their game at the United Center in Chicago on November 11, 2013. UPI/Brian Kersey | License Photo

The Denver Broncos are introduced during pre-game activities that honored the military at Sports Authority Field at Mile High on November 18, 2012 in Denver. UPI/Gary C. Caskey | License Photo

WASHINGTON, Nov. 5 (UPI) -- The U.S. Department of Defense paid some $6.8 million to professional sports franchises in the past four years to honor American soldiers at sporting events, a joint oversight committee announced Wednesday.

Arizona Republican Sens. John Flake and John McCain found among the sponsorship expenses were $49,000 to the Milwaukee Brewers to sponsor Sunday performances of "God Bless America" and $20,000 to the New York Jets to honor New Jersey Army National Guard soldiers. Events included full-field displays of the American flag and emotional reunions of service members with their families.


Since 2012, the Pentagon signed dozens of contracts with National Football League, Major League Baseball, National Hockey League and Major League Soccer teams that amounted to "paid patriotism," McCain said.

The Pentagon said the marketing contracts were intended to help with recruitment efforts, but Flake and McCain said there's no evidence they were effective. Instead, the senators said they were met with countless roadblocks from the Pentagon during their investigation.

"We wonder just how many of these displays included a disclaimer that these events were in fact sponsored by the DOD at taxpayer expense," the committee's report said. "Even with that disclosure, it is hard to understand how a team accepting taxpayer funds to sponsor a military appreciation game, or to recognize wounded warriors or returning troops, can be construed as anything other than paid patriotism."

In reviewing 72 of 122 contracts, the committee found the DOD paid for contracts that included national anthem performances, enlistment ceremonies and color guard presentations. Most of the contracts came with game tickets and VIP access most likely given to recruiters or participating troops at the events, the committee found.

In addition to paying professional sporting teams, the DOD spent dollars on displays at the Alamo City Comic Con in Texas ($7,000), the University of Wisconsin sporting events ($170,000), the Iron Dog snowmobile race in Alaska ($700,000) and NASCAR ($1.6 million).

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said the NFL is conducting an audit of all of its agreements between the teams and the military and would refund payments made for activities beyond recruitment. It is unclear how much will be refunded.