A veterans group in Eau Claire, Wis., was forced to move its Veterans Day program to a Burger King after the local school district refused to allow the group to perform 21-gun salute on school property.
WEAU 13 reported that the Eau Claire school district relocated the Patriot Council's Veterans Day program after families and students expressed unease over the veterans bringing rifles and firing blanks on school premises.
"It's really hard to tell the veterans they're not allowed to bring those rifles in," Patriotic Council Vice President Kaye Olsen said. "Which, the only purpose is, to honor our flag and our country and to teach the kids."
The district said they like to honor veterans, but made clear they were enforcing a zero-tolerance policy when it comes to guns.
"The shooting of guns, even with blanks, is something we don't feel is appropriate given society," Eau Claire School District official Tim Libham said.
The Patriot Council found that the school district would not budge on the issue of guns, regardless of purpose, context, or safety precautions taken ahead of the ceremony.
"I was hoping maybe we could find a compromise," Olsen said. "But when it comes to the weapons, there was no compromise."