A group of local marines say they were turned away from a popular Capitol Hill restaurant and bar because of their ties to the military.

They are the few, the proud and now the rejected after two members of the U.S. military were denied access to The Hawk 'n' Dove Bar and Restaurant on Capitol Hill Friday night while out trying to celebrate a birthday, promotion and returning from war.

"It was my birthday and we were coming back from Iraq (web|news), so we were celebrating that, and one of the colleagues getting promoted," said Gunnery Sgt. Franklin Springer.  

Springer was one of the men denied access to The Hawk 'n' Dove, and says, when the group presented their military Id's to get in, the bouncer told them to "forget it," telling the men that military members are not allowed in their establishment.

"It didn't sound like a personal grudge--he wasn't angry or anything," said Springer. "He just said, this is what it is, you know, we're not allowing military in."

The men, who said they were not drunk or loud, left without incident, but said the incident still lingers. "It shocked me that in America there's an establishment that actually doesn't allow American military in their place," said one member of the group.

Hawk 'n' Dove told ABC 7/NewsChannel 8 reporter Greta Kreuz they don't have a policy that bans all service members, but manager, Paul Meagher, a Vietnam vet himself, did say they do restrict admission for some marines posted at the nearby 8th and I Barracks because of a long history of drunken marines from there causing trouble.

Meagher said an incident at the bar and restaurant in July involving members of the nearby barracks caused almost $900 in damage. But he maintains that the establishment does "not have any policy like that" and military members should be allowed to enter. He also said that his employees may need to be re-educated on the company's policy regarding who is allowed in and who is not.

The rejected marines, who've been on the offensive in Iraq and Afghanistan say it's not fair to ban an entire group--the military--because of an occasional disruptive member. "I don't know if an isolated incident can speak for the entire organization," said Justin Goldman, a former marine.