GREEN BAY — The public gallery in Green Bay’s city council seats about 40. Much it was filled on July 30 with residents who donned caps decorated with veteran insignias.
From the Fort Knox caps to the Women’s Legionnaire caps, they were all emblazoned with “American Legion: Green Bay, WI.”
Typically, such a display would signal a parade, or would be seen when laying a comrade to rest with an honorable goodbye by playing taps, folding the American flag and presenting it to those who survive the deceased.
But this time, they filled the chamber to convince the council to keep a sacred part of these rituals accessible.
If a veteran’s family requests, the legionnaires shoot three rifle volleys as part of the deceased’s goodbye. Prior to Tuesday, this was technically illegal.
Green Bay’s city council amended its firearms ordinance this week to add an exemption, wherein firearms are allowed to be shot in the city as part of an “honorary discharge of a firearm, using only blanks, as a gun salute for ceremonial purposes.” This brings the city in line with other municipalities that have already allowed ritual shots.