All veterans are not equally deserving of being honored. That seems pretty clear to me, especially when the veterans at issue fought against United States. But, the managing editor of a small town newspaper in North Carolina says she doesn't get it. Lee Raynor was surprised to be button-holed by an African-American veteran and told that he was offended by a local performance that honored Confederate soldiers. The man attended a musical memorial called "Salute! A Tribute to America's Veterans" in Kinston. Raynor wrote about her confusion in The Free Press.

Near the end of the program talented T.W. Rogers sang "An American Trilogy." The hauntingly beautiful piece, recorded by Elvis Presley, is a medley of "Dixie," "The Battle Hymn of the Republic" and "Hush, Little Baby." It's both poignant and rousing. The familiar words of "Dixie" and the melancholy words whispering "You know your daddy's going to die," are followed by the rousing, "Glory, glory hallelujah."

What few people noticed, and even fewer people heard, was the outrage of a highly-decorated retired Army lieutenant colonel, a man who pulled duty in Vietnam and who has, for years, worked hard in this community.

Joe Tyson was infuriated by the song.

"It was out of the context of what they were doing," Tyson, who is black, told me later. "It was out of place. Why didn't they just wave the Confederate flag?"

Images of hoods and hangings and slavery ran through Tyson's head as Rogers sang.

"I don't expect you to understand," he said. "I almost got up and walked out, but I realized that was unprofessional."

Instead, Tyson and his wife found Salute Chairman Herman McLawhorn and Pride of Kinston Director B.J. Murphy and expressed their feelings - vehemently. Tyson has not complained to anyone else, he said, and has not discussed the incident with anyone except me.

Tyson has worked with the Salute committee since the event began. He's supported it in all areas of the community - black and white. But he won't do it again, he said. He's washing his hands of Salute.

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