VA cemetery accused of censoring religious speech

The Houston Chronicle ^ | 6/28/11 | Lindsay Wise

[ruralvoter]

Local veterans and volunteer groups accuse Department of Veterans Affairs officials of censoring religious speech — including the word “God” — at Houston National Cemetery.

In one example cited in documents filed this week in federal court, cemetery director Arleen Ocasio reportedly told volunteers with the National Memorial Ladies that they had to stop telling families, “God bless you,” at funerals and that they had to remove the words “God bless” from condolence cards.

“It’s just unfair that somebody would ask us to take God out of our vocabulary,” said Cheryl Whitfield, founder of Houston National Memorial Ladies.

“I could’ve kept my mouth shut and let things happen, but when it comes to standing up for your belief in God and giving comfort to the families, I don’t want to regret not saying anything,” Whitfield said.

[cranked]

Please don’t tell me the libtards and political correct morons of this idiot-ridden administration are also in charge of the Dept. of Vetrans Affairs....=.=

[heartwood]

It wouldn’t seem that hard to look at the paperwork and find out what religious denomination, or non-religious one, the family belongs to.

My cousin was an AF pilot who died when his plane crashed and his immediate family is atheist/agnostic. We weren’t close but their beliefs were obvious and I didn’t offer them what would have seemed lies and platitudes.

OTOH, a believer’s family could be hurt by omitting mention of God

[Vernon]

Just one more proof that “stupid is as stupid does!”

[BatGuano]

Agreed...preparation before the service could avoid offending the non-believer. OTOH, why would a non-believer want to be buried in a VA cemetary? This is how mad we have become.

[MadMax, the Grinning Reaper]

This could be BIG since the Democrats are crowing about how they and the Secy for VAffairs is so pro-military.

Keep an eye on the story and see what happens. Might also let your local VFW and Am. Legion groups know what is happening.

[heartwood]

Why wouldn’t a non-believer want to be buried in a veteran’s cemetery? They can love their country, serve their country and die for their country like any believer.

My grandfather, grandmother and my uncle are buried at Arlington, my cousin at the Air Force Academy cemetery, non-believers all, in fitting resting places.

[Tainan]

V.A. cemetery director Arleen Ocasio

Shun this person. Hold her accountable for her actions. Actions have consequences...sometimes 'Unintended Consequences'

[VeniVidiVici]

OCASIO SELECTED AS NEW DIRECTOR OF HOUSTON VA NATIONAL CEMETERY

Published 04/11/2010 - 6:21 a.m. CST

HOUSTON — Arleen Ocasio was recently selected as director of the Houston VA National Cemetery. In her new post, she is responsible for all burial, maintenance, and administrative operations at the cemetery. The Houston VA National Cemetery is the second largest national cemetery in the region, encompassing some 419 acres of a former dairy farm in northwest Houston.

Prior to her appointment, Ocasio was the first director of the new Jacksonville VA National Cemetery in Jacksonville, Fla. She was responsible for the initial development of the cemetery through its design phase, the cemetery dedication, consecration, and the beginning of burial operations in January 2009.

Ocasio was the director of the Puerto Rico VA National Cemetery from November 2006 and assistant director at Puerto Rico from July 2005 until her appointment as director. She has also held the position of cemetery director at Salisbury VA National Cemetery Complex in North Carolina, including oversight of Salisbury VA National Cemetery and its four satellite cemeteries in North Carolina and Virginia; at Natchez VA National Cemetery in Mississippi; and Fayetteville VA National Cemetery in Arkansas. She joined the National Cemetery Administration as a cemetery representative leader at the Puerto Rico VA National Cemetery.

For approximately 10 years before joining the National Cemetery Administration, Ocasio held various positions in the VA West Side Medical Center in Chicago, Ill., where she worked with minor contracts, maintenance contracts, and budget and was the Hispanic Employment Program assistant manager. She was also assigned to the San Juan VA Medical Center where she worked with administrative processes, purchases, and budget in the Nuclear Medicine Service.

Beginning her federal career with the Federal Aviation Administration in the Air Traffic Division in 1984, Ocasio is a native of Chicago. She graduated from the Interamerican University of Puerto Rico with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 2000.