MCDOWELL COUNTY, N.C. — A restaurant is under fire after an act of kindness to firefighters on the anniversary of 9/11 went wrong.

WLOS.com reported that Sixty-Seven Pizza gave a free plate at their buffet for firefighters wearing their uniforms into the restaurant on the anniversary. However, volunteer firefighters were left out of the deal. And now the restaurant is apologizing.

"I think anybody that serves in this capacity is a hero and I could not do that job," Elizabeth Miller, co-owner of Sixty-Seven Pizza Co., said.

Comments hit Facebook claiming the employees were disrespectful, saying "the issue was that volunteers were called 'fake firemen'" and "if a place cannot honor our volunteers, I cannot eat there."

"The volunteer situation was something that I can take full responsibility for," Miller said. "We didn't know that there was any kind of identifying card or badge or anything that would enable us to know."

Miller denies anyone was called fake.

"We didn't know how to differentiate, but we certainly weren't trying to hurt anyone ever. Ever. Ever," she said.

Miller said the regular 50 percent off buffet discount is back on for volunteer firefighters who can show a membership card.