Vets withdraw visit to school

GREENVILLE, Pa. -- A veterans group has decided against participating in a high school Veterans Day ceremony because the school district won't allow a minister to lead prayers.
When Greenville High School holds an assembly Nov. 11, members of the Greenville Veterans Council will hold observance at their traditional site at American Legion Post 140, said veterans council member Clifford H. Harriger.
Harriger had approached Greenville Area School District Superintendent Patricia M. Homer to combine the high school and veterans council ceremonies into one assembly.
The ceremony is normally held at the American Legion, but the veterans wanted to hold it at the school this year to give students a chance to meet with those who have served in the military.
The school district said it was receptive to the idea as long as a minister did not speak at the event.
School officials were worried that references to God and prayers would violate students' civil liberties. According to school district manager Lynda P. Holm, the district has students of various religious backgrounds.
Harriger said area veterans do not want to participate in an assembly without a minister: "We, as a committee, and we are sure the masses of veterans, living and dead, would not accept the restrictions that the Superintendent of Greenville High School placed on our time-honored service, in remembrance of all those who were killed in action for our freedom."