LANSING, MI (WNEM) -
The story of a Caro boy who took cupcakes decorated with plastic green Army soldiers to school to celebrate his birthday has taken a new twist.
Now local lawmakers are sounding off on the school's decision to remove the little Army soldiers from the cupcakes.
Michigan Sen. Mike Green issued a statement on the Senate floor Tuesday regarding the toy soldier cupcake controversy, which originated in his home county.
His remarks were in support of the third-grade student who brought cupcakes topped with World-War-II-style "little green army men" to his classroom on the occasion of his ninth birthday.
The cupcakes sparked a nationwide controversy when the school district required that the toy soldiers be removed before being served due to their depiction of a firearm.
The school principal called the inclusion of the little green army men on the cupcakes "inappropriate" and "insensitive" in the wake of recent school violence.
Green, R-Mayville, invited the student's parents, Casey and Angela Fountain, to the state Capitol on Tuesday to share their cupcakes with senators and staff. In his speech, he explained the controversy and called for reason and common sense in place of excessive political correctness.
"The actions of the elementary school in banning this 9-year-old's birthday treat are truly outrageous," said Green. "Genuine acts of honor towards our men and women in uniform, past and present, should not be censored."
Green represents the 31st District, which includes Arenac, Bay, Huron, Sanilac and Tuscola counties.
WNEM.com's original story on the cupcake incident has generated more than 11,000 Facebook "recommends" and 150 comments. That story can be found here, along with the school's statement on the issue.
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Michigan Sen. Mike Green, left, with Casey and Angela Fountain.
A close-up of the cupcake topped off with a plastic soldier.
