Veterans from all branches of the US Military service gathered yesterday outside the Army Career Center on Southtown Boulevard to commemorate the Chattanooga shooting victims and guard the entrance to the recruiting office. Their purpose was to protect and honor the recruiters inside, and to pay respect to fallen brothers. Several armed Owensboro veterans said they would be back on Tuesday. The veterans from the American Legion Post 9 in Owensboro are taking turns standing guard during the Army Career Center’s normal business hours. Part of their presence is to protest Department of Defense regulations that forbid recruitment officers from carrying weapons. According to Navy vet Nick Hetman “our military can defend our country with weapons, but they can’t defend themselves. That’s just wrong.”