What it boils down to is this sadistic Army helicopter gunner named Sam Harper was shot down by friendly fire during the Gulf War. Soon the charred demon rises from the dead and begins killing everyone who doesn't give Uncle Sam his proper due. Lucky for everybody that Jed is still around, the old war veteran knows he has to save the children. Identifying a five year old burned corpse is no fun. Don't hand a woman her dead husband's melted dog tags.
Kids carry around ammo cans all the time, even to school.
Nothing kills the romantic mood like a coffin in your dining room. Nice people don't hide veteran's artificial legs. Stilts are pretty handy for peeping toms. Getting spray painted sucks. Every school has a hatchet or two hanging around.