By Allie Martin, OneNewsNow.com
The founder of the American Family Association (AFA) says it’s outrageous that a complaint from one person can put a halt to a long-standing tradition at funerals throughout all 125 national cemeteries.
A complaint about religious content has led to a ban on flag-folding recitations by Veterans Administration employees and volunteers at all national cemeteries. At thousands of military burials, the American flag is folded 13 times and volunteers recite the significance of each fold to survivors. The 11th fold glorifies “the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob,” while the 12th glorifies “God the Father, the Son and Holy Ghost.” (See earlier article)
Now the unpaid VA volunteers, along with employees, have been banned from conducting the recital at all national cemeteries. AFA founder Don Wildmon says a national federal agency has created law.
“They are getting rid of God from the burial of people who have fought and died for the freedom of religion,” he says, “and they are taking away that freedom of religion.”
Wildmon contends the situation is similar to the incident when one person’s complaint resulted in prayer being taken out of public schools. AFA has an online petition on its website that will be sent to President George W. Bush, asking him to rescind the directive. “He has the power to rescind this policy if he so desires,” says Wildmon. The organization is also encouraging Christians across the country to contact their senators and representative to express their feelings about the ban.
Editor’s Note: The American Family Association is the parent organization of the American Family News Network, which operates OneNewsNow.com.
——————————————-
(Source: OneNewsNow.com)
DISCLAIMER: Church of God and Faith News does not necessarily endorse or sanction all or any part of this news item.