Veterans Concerned About Music As A Weapon IV Tour
Band Photo: Killswitch Engage (?)
The Green Bay Press Gazette has reported the following story about Veterans raising concerns over the last stop of the Music as a Weapon IV tour:
Veterans say a festival that could include tobacco sampling, a tattoo parlor and heavy metal music doesn't belong near the Brown County Veterans Memorial on Armed Forces Drive.
The village recently approved a permit for the Music as a Weapon event, set to take place 2-6 p.m. May 17 at the Resch Center before a Disturbed concert later that night. Organizers say the event won't happen near the memorial, which sits on the corner of South Oneida Street and Armed Forces Drive, but some vets are wary the scene will mock the memorial.
"That is sacred land to the veterans," World War II veteran Bob Young told the Village Board. "They don't like to see it abused."
The veterans' concern comes on the heels of their displeasure last summer with a miniature golf course constructed almost immediately under the memorial. At that time, PMI Entertainment Group, which manages the Resch Center, shut down the mini-golf and promised not to crowd the memorial.
"There was (a) circus in front of it last year, and veterans were upset," Young said. "We don't want to see another example of that."
The event's sponsor, Tats and Tunes Inc., out of California, estimates 150 people will attend, though some veterans suspect the number will be higher. The event would include motorcycle jumping, skateboard half-pipe demonstrations, and alcohol sales.
PMI President and Chief Executive Officer Ken Wachter said the event will take place in the brick plaza directly in front of the Resch and possibly in a parking lot across the street, both of which are east of the memorial.
"We told the vets last year we weren't going to do anything near the memorial, and we're still very cognizant of what we told them," he said. "It is something that's important to us."
Read the full article at Green Bay Press Gazette.
Source: Green Bay Press Gazette
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13 Comments on "Veterans Concerned About Music As A Weapon IV Tour"
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3. writes:
My initial reaction was knee jerk too, but it sounds like they just don't want the festivities (tatooing and everything else) spilling over into the memorial grounds. That's fair enough. Afterall, who's ever known a WWII vet who isn't tatooed and never smoked :-o
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6. writes:
It's understandable. Music fests are notoriously harsh on the grounds on which they are held. I would say the concern is about the physical damage to the memorial grounds more than anything. Cigarette butts, trash, and general damage from people walking, standing, pissing, what have ya. I agree whole-heartedly. B12 pretty much summed it up for me. These aren't just a bunch of old dudes. These are guys who fought and died for our rights. I think Disturbed would agree actually, considering they played Iraq for the troops.
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10. writes:
i live in green bay and where this is located is smack dab in the middle of where everyone walks...im not going to this only because disturbed sucks major a$$ for satans sake i dont think i could ever listen to the lead singers voice for a two hours...if this was killswitch engages festival i would pay money but as long as disturbed is heading it no thanks
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11. writes:
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1. wilco writes:
do think metal and country are the only music kind
who do care about veterans
and with a metal concert at least your alcohol sale will go up
queens ryche if i were king