Posted on 09/09/2011 5:16:57 PM PDT by woofer2425
This is a Facebook posting I received from a friend and retired Marine I served with on Okinawa.
Today I was incensed at the conclusion of a funeral for my beloved 85 year old uncle who proudly served in the US Army during The Korean Conflict. During the committal service at a Pittsburgh cemetery the local military detachment performed their ritual, then folded and presented the American Flag to my aunt. As I'm sure you have witnessed during military funerals, a soldier bends to one knee and recites a scripted message to a surviving relative that begins 'On behalf of the President of the United States and a grateful nation, I wish to present you with this flag in appreciation for your husband's service ...'. However, today the dialogue was 'On behalf of the Secretary of Defense and a grateful nation ...' After the service I approached the soldier who presented the flag to my aunt to inquire about the change in language. His response was "The White House notified all military funeral service detachments to immediately remove 'the President' and insert 'the Secretary of Defense'. I couldn't believe what I heard and the soldier smiled and said "You can draw your own conclusion sir but that was the order". He, too, was ashamed of what he was required to say..........Notice the Change ?
I believe SecDef is grateful.
I don’t believe 0bama cares AT ALL and is just as happy with dead servicemen who
1) serve his political ends,
2) cause American families and combined services any pain or discomfort
3) rid himself of any ‘loose ends.’
And that goes double for MO, Axelrod, Jarrett, et al
Why would anyone value condolences from this President?
OK, I’ll bite. Why?
Again? I never knew he stopped.
Can anyone confirm or deny if this story is true? I do not like to forward information unless I know that it is accurate.
At my father’s service in 2007, the wording was definitely “On behalf of the President....and a grateful nation, etc”
Let me take a wild guess. It was dunham’s decision to try to capture a high value target to improve his poll numbers, rather than drone the SOB, which caused the SEALS to be murdered. This language change will now reflect on the sec of defense.
On the off chance that it IS true, quite frankly as a veteran, I would very much prefer no mention of the POTUS be made at my funeral.
It would be one of the current POTUS directives I could actually applaud!
Think about it...
Hm ... would that be a tacit admission that he isn’t a legitimate commander-in-chief?
Apparently Army does not use “President of the US,” but I could not find any reference to the Secy of Defense
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Present the flag using the veteran’s military service preferred wording:
Army ... This flag is presented on behalf of a grateful nation and the United States Army as a token of appreciation for your loved one’s honorable and faithful service. (Note: President of the United States isn’t an official reference in the Army flag presentation.)
Marine Corps ... On behalf of the President of the United States, the Commandant of the Marine Corps, and a grateful nation, please accept this flag as a symbol of our appreciation for your loved one’s service to Country and Corps.
Navy ... On behalf of the President of the United States and the Chief of Naval Operations, please accept this flag as a symbol of our appreciation for your loved one’s service to this Country and a grateful Navy.
Air Force ... On behalf of the President of the United States, the Department of the Air Force, and a grateful nation, we offer this flag for the faithful and dedicated service of [Service member’s rank and name]. (NOTE: If the next of kin has expressed a religious preference or belief, add: “God bless you and this family, and God bless the United States of America.”)
Coast Guard ... On behalf of the President of the United States, the Commandant of the Coast Guard, and a grateful nation, please accept this flag as a symbol of our appreciation for your loved one’s service to Country and the Coast Guard.
Provided by Military Funeral Honors / U.S. Defense Department
http://www.usa-patriotism.com/reference/flag_presentation.htm
http://www.mdmildep.org/FuneralProgram/faq.html#d15
My dad was Air Force and that’s the wording that they used when presenting the flag to my mother.
Admist all of the grief, I was thankful that the President at that time really did feel gratitude to veterans.Not sure how I’d feel today....isn’t that sad?
“Not sure how I’d feel today....isn’t that sad?”
It truly is, and we thought Clinton wore down military morale...With Obama, it would seem almost a mockery.
I have no way to verify either. However I would prefer that Mr. obama not be mentioned when I die. Since we do NOT have a legal President (A British Subject cannot be President of the U.S.A.) then It cannot be presented on behalf of the President.
TSGT USAF Retired
Would like to say that I can’t believe it but sadly, I do. You say in your post that it has been confirmed. Have you actually seen something in writing or is that just based on what you heard at the service that you officiated?
If there is a policy IN WRITING, it should be sent to Fox News, Drudge, Brietbart, Rush Limbaugh, the VFW, etc!
I was part of an honor guard from 1993 until 2005. While Clinton was C-I-C I refused to mention the President when presenting the flag to the survivor. As a veteran, I could not respect him.
Don’t get me wrong.... the person currently in occupation of the Whitehouse is not Commander-in-Chief....he stupidly referred to himself as “Commander-OF-Chief.... probably when he visited that 57th state!
Anyway, the actual Army protocol for military funeral flag presentation does not begin with “On behalf of the President and a grateful nation....”, as do the other branches of the military.
“This flag is presented on behalf of a grateful nation and the United States Army as a token of appreciation for your loved one’s honorable and faithful service.” is the wording used by the Army. If the soldier presenting the flag chose to use other wording, he was actually not following protocol....possibly in error.... possibly because he hoped someone would notice and he could voice his ‘opinion’ of the person in occupation of the Whitehouse. Cudos to him, if the latter.
I have never seen such UNAmerican behavior from anyone in so high an elected office in these United States, as I have seen exhibited by this person. He taunts America with his “power” and “Executive Orders”, ripping at the Constitution and all that we hold dear. He undermines our freedom with his Socialist/Marxist agenda, and we hear Soros speak each time he reads from his ever-present teleprompter. He is holding America hostage... and I am only one of HUNDREDS of MILLIONS of AMERICANS who have had ENOUGH. It is NOT war, nor a fight, as these vermin scream from their pulpits, trying to drag us down to their Mad Maxx mentalities..... it is simply REAL Americans, holding onto the vision of our Great Nation, staying GREAT!! We will continue to hold that vision and VOTE, time after time, until we have elected those who will hear us and represent us honestly, as our Forefathers intended.
“THANK YOU!”, to all who have ever served, or are serving courageously, in defense and protection of the United States of America!! God Bless our troops, past and present!
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