4 veterans groups won't march in Council Bluffs parade

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.omaha.com/article/20140517/NEWS/140518726/1707#4-veterans-groups-won-t-march-in-council-bluffs-parade

By Mike Brownlee / World-Herald News Service

At least four veterans groups have decided not to participate in the Celebrate CB parade after officials rejected the float for the local Vietnam Veterans of America group.

The Vietnam veterans group had submitted a proposal to walk with a “tiger cage,” representing what U.S. prisoners of war endured in Vietnam. Parade organizers said the float doesn't fit the theme of the event, “CB Better Together.”

The American Legion Riders, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Disabled Veterans of America and Disabled Veterans of America Riders have decided not to participate in the parade, according to representatives with those organizations. Event emcee Crash Davis also pulled out because of the flap.

“We had our whole float built yesterday. And then we tore it down today,” said Justin Winchell, commander of the Disabled Veterans. The tiger cage “might offend people — well, there are a lot of things that might offend people. This is history.”

FULL story at link.

[Wounded Bear]

1. Now that's some political correctness I can complain about...

No reality based celebrations for them. Nope, all you vets can just go out and do our "patriotic" rah-rah bullshit that helps recruiting, but leave the ugly truth out of it.



To the Vets groups and their boycott.

[riverwalker]

2. "detrimental to children" ??? Outrageous

Every year, the Vietnam Veterans Chapter 798 uses a replica of a tiger cage, a torture device used to parade captured Americans through the streets of Vietnam, in the Celebrate Council Bluffs Parade as a teaching tool, hoping history never repeats itself.

“Generally, he was beaten and had broken bones,” said Ben Wiese, chapter president. “We always had the cage directly behind our color guard and we marched in the parade with this thing for a number of years, and now all of a sudden we are informed we can't have the cage in the parade because it might be detrimental to children.”


Read more: http://www.ketv.com/news/tiger-cage-causing-controversy-in-council-bluffs-parade/25987258#ixzz32032ECoO

[riverwalker]

3. looking for a way to contact Board President

In an email May 6, Celebrate Council Bluffs Board President Karen Purdue said they received complaints about the cage but still asked the chapter to participate.

“The complaints pushed our decision to ask for a modification. We do want you and the organization to be in the parade as those who fought for our freedom,” the email said.

found a contact link for parade, best I could do.
http://www.celebratecb.com/parade