Woke Pentagon Caves to Bullies, Yanks Faith-Based Dog Tags

Townhall.com ^ | December 21, 2021 | Todd Starnes

[Kaslin]

Army Captain Russell Rippetoe was killed on April 3, 2003 when the enemy detonated a car bomb at a military checkpoint in western Iraq.

When they recovered Capt. Rippetoe’s body, they discovered that he was wearing an inspirational dog tag created by Shields of Strength, a family-owned company in Texas.

The dog tag was adorned with a Bible verse from the Old Testament, Joshua 1:9.

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go,” the verse read.

President George W. Bush referenced the captain’s dog tag during a Memorial Day ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery.

After the ceremony, Shields of Strength was overwhelmed by telephone calls and orders for replica dog tags.

For more than 20 years, they’ve either sold or given away more than 4 million dog tags emblazoned with the official logos of the military branches along with Bible verses.

Their mission is to “share the love, hope, forgiveness and power of God’s Word with others and to see people victorious in life’s battles and in a relationship with Jesus Christ.

For decades, soldiers went into battle knowing that around their necks was a reminder that the Lord Almighty was by their side.

“Those dog tags were a source of strength and hope and encouragement, particularly for our members of faith in the military,” First Liberty Institute attorney Michael Berry said during an interview on The Todd Starnes Radio Show.

In 2019, the Military Religious Freedom Foundation got wind of the replica dog tags and became enraged.

The MRFF, founded by Mikey Weinstein, has developed a notorious reputation for being triggered by public displays of Christianity within the military.

They are especially aggrieved by Nativity Scenes on military bases during the Christmas season.

The MRFF demanded that the Pentagon pull the trademark licensing - arguing that it was against the law, Berry said.

“It took less than 48 hours for the Department of Defense to turn around and tell Shields of Faith after 20 years of working together to stop,” the attorney said.

Cease and desist, the Pentagon declared, telling Shields of Faith they could no longer produce or sell licensed items with religious content.

“They cited Mikey Weinstein’s complaint in an article,” Berry told me. “It really did surprise me how quickly our Pentagon capitulated to the threats of a bully.”

First Liberty Institute has filed a federal lawsuit against the U.S. Military on behalf of Kenny and Tammie Vaughan, the owners of Shields of Strength.

First Liberty says the military’s edict violates the Free Exercise Clause, the Establishment Clause and the Free Speech Clause of the U.S. Constitution.

“There’s no legal reason for the military to discriminate against Shields of Strength,” Berry said.

“The Pentagon is saying, ‘Oh, we’re more than happy to license dog tags that don’t have any Scripture on them. That’s perfectly fine. But if it has a Scripture verse, then it’s now prohibited. It’s outlawed.”

Berry told me the military’s decision has been heartbreaking for the Vaughan family. They consider themselves to be patriots.

In years past, they would get calls from commanding officers requesting hundreds of thousands of complimentary dog tags emblazoned with Joshua 1:9 for troops bound for deployment.

But now, they must reject those requests.

“He tells me with tears in his eyes that he has to say no to chaplains, to commanding officers and military units,” Berry said.

Rep. Ronny Jackson (R-TX) told me he was disgusted by the Pentagon’s capitulation.

“It just pisses me off to no end, to be honest with you,” said the member of the House Armed Services Committee. “All they care about is their social agenda. And they legitimately say the United States is their big social experiment.”

I reckon we should not be all that shocked to learn that our woke military waved the white flag of surrender to a bunch of anti-Christian thugs who earn a living by being offended.

[FlingWingFlyer]

This bit the “Military” God haters on the ass. They won’t be able to use religion as a reason not to be vaccinated. ROTFLMAO!!! Clowns.

[Texas Fossil]

Thanks for posting.

[ComputerGuy]

Weinstein

[HighSierra5]

MRFF. What an oxymoron.

[Elsie]

“They cited Mikey Weinstein’s complaint in an article,” Berry told me. “It really did surprise me how quickly our Pentagon capitulated to the threats of a bully.”

This is why the DEms think that going after ONE MAN for destroying 'democracy' is going to work!

[GingisK]

This is an unconstitutional move. The government does not have any right to interfere with the practice of religion. I saw this crap coming. I convinced my children to avoid military service because it is politicized.

[Elsie]

...he has to say no...

NO! he doesn't!

---

Cease and desist, the Pentagon declared, telling Shields of Faith they could no longer produce or sell licensed items with religious content.

Since WHEN does the Pentagon MAKE LAW?

[Elsie]

What isn’t these days?

[Wonder Warthog]

Yup...I noticed that too. Also sure “Mikey” (assuming the name actually reflects his birth gender) is not an active practitioner of his parents religion....

[GingisK]

Emmmmmm, nothing! Time for some serious pushback. Of course, I expect conservatives to merely blog.

[Elsie]

SOS website -—> https://www.shieldsofstrength.com/joshua-1-9/

Try telling Gramma, Mom or Dad or kids, siblings or any other person in this country that THEY cannot buy one of these for their kin/friend or classmate!

[Elsie]

Dress Uniform Etiquette

Uniform code is important in the military. Below are some uniform etiquette do’s and don’ts for service members:

Cover

Cover or hats are not to be worn indoors and should be worn outdoors in most circumstances.

No PDA

Service members will not show PDA or public displays of affection while in uniform. Handholding, smooching, and hugging is generally not allowed.

However, moderate hugs and kisses are acceptable during deployments and homecomings.

Hands

Here’s some important rules for how to keep service members in regulations regarding their hands:

• No hands in pockets: Service members are not allowed to keep their hands in their pockets.
• Keep right hand free: Right hand salutes are given to high-ranking personnel, who will return the salute. If you’re walking with someone in uniform, it’s best to walk on their left side so their right hand is free to salute.

• No holding hands: Armed forces personnel are not allowed to hold hands while in uniform.

Walking in uniform

Walking in uniform is not like walking in civilian clothing. Service members must pay attention to the following:

• Cell phones: No walking and talking on cell phones in uniform.
• Eating and drinking: Service members cannot eat or drink while walking in uniform. Smoking included. Chewing gum in uniform is considered unprofessional.

Visiting Bars & Taverns

According to the Military Drug and Alcohol Policy, “Personnel may not wear the combat uniform in off-post establishments that primarily sell alcohol for consumption on the premises. If the off-post establishment sells alcohol and food for consumption on the premises, personnel may not wear the combat uniform if their activities in the establishment center on the drinking of alcohol.”

 

 

[Elsie]

THEY???

https://www.military.com/daily-news/2021/12/20/va-said-it-would-cover-gender-affirmation-surgeries-trans-vets-are-still-waiting.html

Your taxes at work!

[Elsie]

Landon Marchant, an Air Force veteran, and their wife Mackenzie Hunter

at the couple's scaled-down wedding during the COVID-19 pandemic.

(Jason Meintjes/Courtesy Landon Merchant)

 

 

WTF???

[Pajamajan]

SMH

[Romans Nine]

Whatever………

My sons went in the Marine Corps (are still in) and have made a difference even if it’s only been with the 15-20 within their spheres of influence.

Maybe Christians should just build little communes and hole up there till Jesus comes?
Might be a few precepts and principals in the scriptures about that.

Have a great day!

[Elsie]

In June, VA Secretary Denis McDonough announced the department was moving to cover gender affirmation surgery. It was one of a series of moves the Biden administration made to show it is focusing on LGBTQ rights, including allowing transgender Americans to serve openly in the military after former President Donald Trump banned their service.

McDonough made his announcement at a Pride Month event in Orlando, Florida, marking the fifth anniversary of the shooting at the gay nightclub Pulse that killed 49 people.

"We're making these changes not only because they are the right thing to do, but because they can save lives," McDonough said in June.

.

.

.

One of those veterans is Sarah Klimm, who realized

she was transgender about halfway through her

23-year career in the Marine Corps.

[Portcall24]

BG Robbie Risner was a POW for 7 years in North Vietnam. His book is “The Passing of the Night”. His belief in God was critical for their survival.

In those dark and terrifying times rotting away thousands of miles from home, Colonel Robinson Risner recounted in his book about their decision to conduct unit worship and prayer services in defiance of the communist North Vietnamese,
another military institution like the Air Force hostile to
prayer. To Risner and most other POWs there is little
doubt of the absolute military necessity of leader-led unit
prayer to their survival as an American military unit:
I could not have existed if I had not been able to
pray. To be able to mention in prayer the names
of my wife, children, friends or relatives, or one
of my fellow POWs who I knew was being
tortured or mistreated, brought us together. The
thousands of miles, the walls of my cell, the
guards, were all transcended by this dimension of
communication.