A Gold Star Father Speaks About the Recent Ban

I'm promoting this out of the comments from this post, because I believe that its important enough to be on the front page.

When a Gold Star Family speaks out about how and why things are done at the funeral of their loved one, we need to listen...

Robert Stokely wrote:

While, for no particular reason, this recitation was not done during Mike's flag folding at his funeral, I don't believe they can stop it if a soldier's family wants it. After all we do still have a constitution that is mightier than the Committee that took this action and I do not believe this committee has the authority to tell a family how they can exercise their religious freedom and free speech when burying their fallen soldier and loved one. Fundamental Rights - that is what the U.S. Supreme Court calls freedom of religion and speech, even ruling that such are the highest and most protected of rights our Constitution guarantees us.

I can understand those of another religious persuasion or those who do not believe in a God at all not wanting such a recitation read during the flag folding at their loved one's funeral. But that is not a constitutionally valid reason for this Committee banning outright the recitation at any National Cemetery military funeral. It should be remembered that a dog tag lists the soldier's religious preference and that preference as well as that of the family is what should legally control. A simple directive by the family to the Funeral Director or Casualty Assistance Officer is a better approach to be sensitive to the family who is burying their soldier than a scorched earth religious edict such as has now been issued by a Government Official. And I again emphasize that the Government is banned from making or establishing religion, and thus banned from interfering with those who have an established religion and the free exercise thereof. Accommodating the free exercise of a fallen soldier's religion and that of his family is not a Government endorsement or making or establishing of religion.

What is next, somebody who doesn't like guns complains and they do away with the 21 gun salute? Somebody doesn't like the American Flag, so we ban draping the flag over the soldier's casket or folding it in silence? Somebody is deaf so we don't play TAPS?

A funeral, especially a military funeral, is for the family to have a final moment of good-bye that is befitting of that loved one's standing in life, including religious standing. It is not a time to be concerned about the feeling of an on-looker who has not suffered such a moment of loss.


Trackbacked/Linked by:
A NATION TUNRING ITS FACE FROM GOD from The Radio Patriot