University cancels popular Veterans Day 21-gun salute over 'gun violence' concerns

Amid cries of outrage, a decade of tradition is ending at the University of Virginia this year as the college decided to cancel its Veterans Day 21-gun salute to veterans. "I am very disillusioned, very upset, and very surprised that they would make such a decision," veteran Jay Levine said, according to WHSV. Levine, who went through the college's ROTC program, said the 21-gun salute is an appropriate way to honor the nation's veterans. College President Jim Ryan posted a statement on Facebook explaining the college's decision to end the salute, which follows a 24-hour vigil for veterans conducted by the school's ROTC unit. Ryan said canceling the salute had two purposes: "First, to minimize disruptions to classes, given that this event is located at the juncture of four primary academic buildings and is held at a time that classes are in session." Second, the college was "recognizing concerns related to firing weapons on the Grounds in light of gun violence that has happened across our nation, especially on school and university campuses." The Daily Progress, the newspaper that covers the Charlottesville, Virginia, community where the college is located, condemned the college's decision. "The decision sends an insulting message to veterans and other patriots," the newspaper said in an editorial. "It also, ironically, sends an unfortunate message about students: That they are too fragile, too delicate, too distractible to deal with the 'interruption' of the salute. That they are too insular, too wrapped up in their own worlds to comprehend and accept this longstanding practice. That they must be protected from the reality that exists outside academia." "The reality is that men and women have died, and others have suffered grievous injury, in order to ensure that students can freely study at this university and others, to ensure that faculty can freely teach. The reality is that this nation has a long and respected tradition of honoring veterans in public displays, including the 21-gun salute, the highest of honors. The reality is that UVa is out of step with many in this community, which it aspires to lead, by its decision to downplay the Veterans Day program," the paper continued. Columnist Todd Starnes also criticized the college's decision in an Op-Ed for CBN. "The notion that students might suffer some sort of disruption because the ROTC is honoring our veterans is repulsive," he wrote. "The University of Virginia may think they are protecting their overly sensitive students, but in reality they are disrespecting our veterans."...MORE