First they covered it up, trying to encase all those memories in some kind of black shroud.
Then they removed it altogether.
Removing the memories of Kate Smith and her ties to the Flyers will be a bit harder.
For decades, hearkening back to the team's glory days as back-to-back Stanley Cup champions, Kate Smith has been intimately linked to the Flyers.
Her rendition of "God Bless America" became the team's unofficial anthem.
When she strode out onto the ice to deliver the goods in person before a crucial Stanley Cup Final game vs. the Boston Bruins, it became one of those electric moments in Philly sports, the kind that makes the hair on the back of your neck stand up.
Kate Smith loved the Broad Street Bullies. And the Flyers nation loved Kate Smith.
All of which makes the events of the past few days that much more difficult.
This started in New York, where the Yankees, who also had adopted "God Bless America" as an inspirational anthem, announced they were cutting ties with the song after questions were raised about the lyrics of several other songs that the iconic American singer recorded and performed.
Nearly 70 years ago.
Yes, this is about a song and lyrics that date back seven decades.
But the clearly racist words and images conjured up by those songs still stings today.
First the Flyers said they would no longer feature "God Bless America," which was first introduced by the team as an alternative to "The Star Spangled Banner" in 1969.
Smith, who died in 1986, performed the song in person several times.
It has remained a feature of the team, often performed by local songstress Lauren Hart, the daughter of legendary Flyers broadcaster Gene Hart.
There is no way to do this quietly. Or easily.
Once the Yankees made their decision, it was only a matter of time before this was going to fall in the Flyers' laps.
They probably would have helped themselves by simply quietly removing the statue and indicating they were cutting ties with the song - and Smith.
First covering up her statue, which stood for years outside the Xfinity Live! complex, seemed a bit odd.
There is no shortage of fans who are angry at the Flyers' decision.
They rail about political correctness run amok. They note these songs and lyrics were performed in the 1930s.
And they would be correct.
It does not change the ugly tenor behind these comments.
Confronting racism is never easy.
Just ask the Flyers, who now find themselves with many of what would easily be considered the most faithful, zealous following in pro sports.
Nothing about dealing with racism is easy.
God Bless America? Absolutely.
But God bless the sentiment that lurks behind lyrics such as "That's Why Darkies Were Born"?
No.
The Flyers made the right call.
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