The quote of the day is presented by Guns.com.
The University of Virginia made national news and was the subject of nationwide scorn for cancelling the 21-gun salute that had been part of the school’s Veterans Day observance for the last decade.
In a Facebook post, UVA president Jim Ryan said the reason for axing the rifle volley was to “minimize disruptions to classes” and in recognition of “concerns related to firing weapons on the Grounds in light of gun violence.”
Now, in response to significant blowback over the ban, UVA has reversed itself and Ryan has announced the following . . .
Sometimes you make mistakes. Although motivated by good intentions, I believe we made a mistake this year in excluding the 21-gun salute from our Veterans Day ceremony. Having attended the ceremony, and having consulted with the Commander in charge, I am confident that we can accommodate a 21-gun salute, which had been a meaningful feature of the ceremony in years past. We will therefore reinstate the 21-gun salute next year, and we will make sure to minimize any disruptions to classes and communicate the details of the ceremony in advance. Thanks to all who shared their views about this topic, and my sincere apologies to any who may have doubted our commitment to honoring our veterans, whom we hold in the highest esteem and who deserve our gratitude.
– UVA President Jim Ryan in a Facebook post
