Posted on 11/01/2007 3:55:28 PM PDT by Jim Robinson
ALLIANCE DEFENSE FUND NEWS RELEASE
November 1, 2007 – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT ADF MEDIA RELATIONS: (480) 444-0020
WASHINGTON — The Alliance Defense Fund sent a letter Wednesday to the Department of Veterans Affairs offering constitutional analysis of the tradition of a flag folding recitation banned by the National Cemetery Association. An unnamed individual lodged a complaint over religious aspects of the ceremony. The ceremony honoring fallen American soldiers is traditionally held during funeral services where the folded flag is handed to the veteran’s family.
Reportedly, Vice President Dick Cheney announced Thursday that the flag-folding recitation will be allowed to continue.
“No one is dishonored when the meaning of the folds are recited in remembrance of a fallen veteran. Everyone is dishonored when VA honor guards are banned from reciting it at veterans’ funerals,” said ADF Senior Counsel Joe Infranco. “It is highly unfortunate that the decades-long disinformation campaign by secularists has intimidated government agencies into banning even our most revered traditions for fear that one atheist may be offended by references to God.”
The flag-folding recitation consists of 13 folds of an American flag, and each fold has a distinct symbolic meaning. The 11th fold recognizes and honors the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
“ADF has informed the VA that the tradition of reciting the meaning of the folds is perfectly constitutional,” said Infranco. “There is no need to prohibit VA-sponsored honor guards from continuing this tradition in honor of those who fought and gave their lives for the very constitutional freedoms now under attack by one so-called ‘offended observer.’ ADF stands ready to defend the tradition that honors fallen American soldiers and their families.”
In the letter, ADF attorneys offered to help VA officials draft a policy to protect the tradition of flag-folding recitations, in accordance with constitutional law. A copy of the letter can be read at www.telladf.org/UserDocs/FlagFoldingRecitationLetter.pdf.
ADF is a legal alliance defending the right to hear and speak the Truth through strategy, training, funding, and litigation.
Bump!
This is neither a hard nor complex question. It is just an illustration of how spineless and short-sighted bureaucrats can be.
Congressman Billybob
I wish this “unnamed individual” would at least have the courage of his convictions and out himself as the offended person.
“This is a fine analysis and I agree with the conclusions they reach.”
Really?
All the court cases they cited involved generic references to a divine being. In this case “The 11th fold recognizes and honors the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.” That’s not a generic reference.
“Funerals are personal to the families involved. Any family has a right to say what they want or don’t want the military to do at their funerals.”
No. The military are employees of the United States government. The constitutional limits on government apply to their participation at any event, including a funeral.
If, on the other hand, you don’t want government employees to participate, feel free to do whatever the heck you want.
“Congressman Billybob”
A Congressman should know better.
If you have further questions on this matter or would like assistance in drafting a policy proposal, please do not hesitate to contact me.
John / Billybob
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