Guard Bows to Parents, Ends Patriotism Rallies

The Tennessee National Guard on Thursday bowed to parent protests and canceled patriotism rallies led by camouflaged soldiers who fired blanks in high school auditoriums filled with unsuspecting students.

“People were complaining their kids were not made aware beforehand. They objected to the shock value,” guard spokesman Maj. Hooper Penuel said of the displays at four area schools Wednesday.

Penuel said that the program, which began with helicopters landing at four schoolyards and featured fiery speeches about the evils of communism, was aimed at inspiring patriotism and making students think about America’s security.

Sought Students’ Attention

“It was just a way to get the attention of students and parents as to what could happen if we were taken over by a foreign power,” Penuel said.

Top guard officers reached their decision Thursday morning after dozens of angry calls from parents who, according to Penuel, complained about the shock their children were put through.

“It was dark and real quiet. Then suddenly some dudes came out of nowhere shooting,” said James Watson, a Fulton High junior.

“What if it had been terrorists? What if someone had a heart condition? It did make us think. Something like that could happen; the Russians could invade us,” he said.

Eighteen Tennessee schools have used the program since November, Penuel said. “This is the first time we’ve encountered opposition.”

Pete Lotts, chairman of the Knox County Board of Education, applauded the guard’s decision.

‘Not Appropriate’

“My first reaction was that it was not an appropriate way to teach patriotism,” he said. “Also, I’m not sure how safe this kind of thing is. Some students could have been traumatized by the shock.”

Other school officials who defended the program said the military is an important part of patriotism and American history and added that the mock raids grabbed the students’ attention.

Students knew beforehand there was to be some type of special program and were gathered in auditoriums or gymnasiums, but they were not told what would happen, a school official said.