“… Let us pray that God will reflect with admiration the willingness of one nation in her attempt to rid the world of tyranny, oppression, and misery. It is this one nation under God that we call, with honor, the United States of America. God Bless our flag. God bless our troops. God bless America.”
Who would think that those words would be forbidden on a U.S. military base?
Yet because the name of God was uttered, retired Senior Master Sergeant Oscar Rodriguez was forcibly dragged off the stage during a solemn flag-folding ceremony at Travis Air Force base by several uniformed airmen, escorted out of the building, and thrown off the base.
“That can’t be true,” you’re probably saying right now. Perhaps in communist China, but not in a country where every cent of our money is emblazoned with In God We Trust and our pledge of allegiance states we are a nation under God. This must be one of those preposterous Internet rumors spread around Facebook like Elvis is really alive or a scientist who claims the moon really is made out of cheese.
Incredibly, this account is all too real as religious liberty in our military is being systematically targeted and undermined.
This incident occurred in April when Master Sergeant Charles Roberson retired from active duty at Travis Air Force base where he had served in the 749th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron. In planning his retirement celebration, Roberson asked retired Senior Master Sergeant Oscar Rodriguez to deliver the flag-folding speech which is part of the retirement ceremony. Roberson had recently seen Rodriguez perform the flag-folding speech at a friend’s retirement ceremony and was so moved by his presentation, he asked Rodriguez to make the same speech at his upcoming retirement. Rodriguez is also an Air Force veteran, having retired in 2013 after serving his country for 33 years. Because of his strong voice and inspiring presentation, Rodriguez is frequently asked to deliver the flag-folding speech at retirement ceremonies and other functions and has done so over 100 times. The recitation Rodriguez gave and that Roberson requested is the traditional flag-folding speech which ends with the quote at the top of this article. (To read a script of the speech click here.)
However this time as Rodriguez began to deliver the speech, several uniform airmen dressed in fatigues rushed the stage and literally dragged him out of the room. Video of the incident shows Rodriguez continuing to recite the speech as he is pushed out the door. Mr. Rodriguez described the ordeal as “one of the most humiliating experiences of my life.”
What makes this even more egregious is that Rodriquez was in attendance as a private citizen dressed in civilian clothes, performing the speech at a private retirement ceremony – not an official Air Force function.
In another sign of the assault upon Christianity in the military, this standard flag-folding script was purged of any reference to God by the Pentagon in 2005. However, many service members prefer the traditional version and, until this incident, have the freedom to use the traditional version at their retirement ceremonies. In fact, as confirmed by Air Force spokesperson Ann Stefanek, “Air Force personnel may use a flag folding ceremony script that is religious for retirement ceremonies. Since retirement ceremonies are personal in nature, the script preference for a flag folding ceremony is at the discretion of the individual being honored and represents the member's views, not those of the Air Force."
However when Roberson’s squadron commander, Lt. Colonel Michael Sovitsky, learned that Rodriquez would use the traditional speech mentioning God, Sivitsky attempted to pressure Roberson and told him Rodriquez couldn’t give the speech. However Roberson showed the mettle you’d expect from a U.S. service member and stood his ground and stated his desire to have Rodriguez perform the speech, as was his right.
As PJ Media reported, “Roberson and Rodriguez tried to clear the speech through higher authorities at Travis Air Force Base, even offering to place notices on the door informing guests that the word “God” would be mentioned. They never received a response from the authorities.”
First Liberty Institute, the largest law firm in the U.S. dedicated exclusively to defending religious liberty, is representing Mr. Rodriguez free of charge. First Liberty has sent a letterto the U.S. Air Force and to the commanding officer at Travis Air Force base promising legal action unless the following demands are met:
(1) A written admission of wrongdoing and unlawful actions by the responsible member(s); (2) A written apology to Mr. Rodriguez; (3) A written assurance that, henceforth, no member of the 349th Air Mobility Wing will commit assault or battery against Mr. Rodriguez because he is attempting to engage in constitutionally protected conduct; (4) Punitive action against those determined to be responsible for violating Mr. Rodriguez’s constitutional rights.
“Mr. Rodriguez has a constitutional right to free speech and religious expression, even on a military base. The military broke the law and abused its power,” stated Mike Berry, director of military affairs for First Liberty.
Indeed, isn’t freedom exactly what our military is supposed to defend? As Mr. Rodriguez stated: “I have given more than three decades of service to the military and made many sacrifices for my country. To have the Air Force assault me and drag me out of a retirement ceremony simply because my speech included the word ‘God’ is something I never expected from our military. To even imagine that I would be removed while the American flag is being unfurled and open—the flag which represents freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom of the press…it’s horrifying.”
The very same freedom that these two men spent decades defending was denied to them.
This is but one of countless examples of open hostility to Christianity within the military under President Obama. (Click herefor documentation of many of these occurrences.)
On June 8 the Pentagon held its annual LGBT pride ceremony in the Pentagon courtyard, as it has done for the past five years. God’s name can no longer be mentioned in our military, but “Gay Pride Month” is celebrated. President Obama has forced his radical sexual agenda upon the military first with his executive repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” and now by pushing for transgenders to openly serve in spite of the turmoil and adverse effects upon our fighting force. While the welcome mat is put out for LGBT recruits, Christians are literally being booted out the door. Our Commander-in-Chief has made it clear that the sexual preferences and perversions of our servicemen and women will be protected, but not Christians’ freedom to exercise their faith.
Click here to send a message to Colonel Raymond A. Kozak, commander of the 349th Air Mobility Wing at Travis Air Force Base expressing your deep concern regarding this assault upon religious liberty at the retirement ceremony of Master Sergeant Roberson.
Or call Travis Air Force Base at 707-424-3936 and ask for Colonel Raymond A. Kozak.
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