An event spokesperson said the parade entry submitted by the veterans group doesn’t reflect the theme of the parade, which is “CB Better Together.” Celebrate CB is a private event organized by a group of local volunteers. It is not affiliated with the city of Council Bluffs and has not been affiliated with Council Bluffs schools since 1978.

The local veterans group’s representation of the “tiger cage,” was constructed out of the same bamboo material that held Vietnam-era POW’s, and features with a captain’s flight suit inside representing a soldier. A parade official said the float was detrimental to children and refused its showing during the parade. The same float was in the parade last year, according to a veterans representative, and there were no complaints.

Ben Wiese said he believes only one or two people complained about the float to parade officials, who then decided to pull the plug. Parade committee member Lynne Branigan said the parade committee monitors every float each year to ensure the parade theme is followed. She admitted the float should not have been allowed last year, and said the committee reserves the right to accept or deny requests to participate in any of their 10 days of events, including the parade, if the entries don’t reflect the theme.