A national tour featuring decorated veterans from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan was scheduled to stop this week at Forest Lake Area High School. But just hours before the event, school administrators abruptly canceled the visit.

Forest Lake High School principal Steve Massey says he canceled the appearance by the Vets for Freedom because he didn't want politics in the classroom. But the truth of the matter is that Mr. Massey succumbed to pressure from radical left wing activists that threatened to stage a protest at the school.

Pete Hegseth, a Forest Lake High grad and the director of Vets for Freedom, said that he had talked with school officials during the planning process, and made clear that presenters would not make political statements. "It's Iraq and Afghan veterans talking about what they saw and what they did there, and about what it means to put on the uniform of your country," he said.

Star Tribune columnist Katherine Kersten said it best in her column this week: “Shame on Forest Lake High administrators for caving to political pressure under the guise of preventing political pressure. Apparently, they only understand the sort of political pressure exerted by left-wing anti-war groups.”  It is appalling that high school students are not allowed to hear from the men and women who have risked their lives protect our country because of threats from Left wing protesters.

You can weigh-in on this incident with some of the people involved in the cancellation.  Contact Steve Massey, the principal of Forest Lake Area High School, and let him know what you think about his decision to cancel the event.  You can also contact Contact Karl Bremer, one of the organizers of the protest threat resulting in the school's cancellation decision.