VA Bans Christmas Trees as Holiday Decorations in Public Areas

wspa.com ^ | November 20, 2015

[ilovesarah2012]

SALEM (WSLS 10) – Christmas trees will not be allowed at the Salem VA Medical Center this holiday season in public areas.

“Displays must not promote any religion. Please note that trees (regardless of the types of ornaments used) have been deemed to promote the Christian religion and will not be permitted in any public areas this year,” reads an email sent to employees. “Employees are permitted to engage in private religious expression in their personal work areas that are not regularly open to the public. Religious expression will be permitted as long as it does not interfere with carrying out of official duties and responsibilities.”

The letter explains “When the public (Veterans and beneficiaries) accesses the Federal workplace, their reasonable impression should be that the government is not sponsoring or endorsing on religion over another.”

Brian Sipp, a Salem VA spokesman says after the initial message was sent out they received a lot of backlash and emails and now they are trying to find a balance between celebrating the holidays and federal law.

[beelzepug]

Oh, sorry. I misunderstood the article to mean VA as in Vererans’ Administration.

[csivils]

I hope they get a name of the genius who made this decision so the next conservative president can reward them by terminating their employment.

[anoldafvet]

All Muslim symbols will be allowed however.

[SkyDancer]

Selective liberal hypocrisy.

[Albion Wilde]

I guess Obama won’t be able to light the Christmas Tree on the National Mall this year, or the White House Christmas tree. He and Valerie probably have big plans for Eid, tho.

[Thibodeaux]

Brian Sipp needs to be eliminated

he is our enemy

[5thGenTexan]

And want Christmas off with pay. For Government workers, that is direct financial sponsorship of religion.

[fuzzylogic]

yeah, constitutional right to free exercise of religion - now interpreted as “just not on public land” </facepalm>

It has been turned on its head to mean exactly what it didn’t mean. Of course it gets interpreted all the way down to the lowest local level by nasty liberals. Yet, try to say that the same applies to the 2nd amendment the same people will say it doesn’t.

...really really tired of this.

[Buckeye McFrog]

and now they are trying to find a balance between celebrating the holidays and federal law.

And so it has come to this

[maxwellsmart_agent]

This is ridiculous! Christmas trees are in no way a religious symbol. This is some liberal’s idea, without much thought whatsoever.

[Fledermaus]

ALL VA bureaucrats need to be fired.

[Gumdrop]

The VA has a thing against evergreen trees??????

[Gumdrop]

When atheists are in control [or Muslims] the world turns dark. During a time of longest nights of the year, the lighting up of Christmas trees and all other lighting decorations makes me smile. Without it, the winter solstice is the dreariest time of the year.

Viva Christo Rey! Long live Jesus Christ, Lord and Savior!

[WVKayaker]

Do you suppose the irony is lost on them?

I spent a year at the Armed Forces Retirement Home (previously the "Navy Home") as Chairman of the MWR Committee (Morale, Welfare, and Recreation) for the Residents Advisory Committee. During that time, I made friends with Mr. Pat Presley, VP for BP. They had an office in Gulfport (MS) after the spill.

I met him when they invited some retired Marines to their office for the Marine Birthday (with a fab cake). I was the youngster among a lot of WW2'ers. But, Pat told me to call him when I needed ANYTHING for the Vets.

In November, I proposed a plan to place 12 Christmas trees in the Lobby and Halls, and invite the 12 local Elementary schools to decorate them. Pat called me about two hours after I asked, and he was at the gate with a pickup load from WallyWorld. 12 trees, completely lighted, and other goodies to decorate. That load was more than $1500 but was a drop to them.

But, the kids came to do their job. The kids made most of the decorations themselves. The Vets hung around watching the kids and loving it. It was a great day, and a great Christmas season. Not all of the trees got decorated by the kids, but some of the Vets pitched in and completed the others...

[Afterguard]

“The Union thugs come first the military service men and women will always come second to the Union thugs! “

I sort of object to the use if “thug” in reference to these bureaucrats. Now, Union “vermin” entirely appropriate.

[Recompennation]

Salem where? There are more than one.
Virginia. The Old Dominion. Bureaucrats emboldened by poor leadership wronging the majority. It’s a disease the Va needs to be cured of.

[Gritty]

Would placing a Festivus Pole in the lobby be OK?

Just asking. I certainly wouldn't want to offend anybody.

[ilovesarah2012]

Great story.

[Johnny Carcinogen]

“A Germanic tribe, the Druids, were mainly responsible for its introduction into Christmas lore.”

Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?

Hint: there was no “Germanic tribe” called the Druids.

[Vigilanteman]

Technically correct. It is also technically incorrect to describe the Druids as a tribe at all. It was more like a religion with the strongest influence on the tribes of Gaul (according to ancient Greek texts) or the Celtic tribes (according to ancient Roman texts), but the range of influence included Germanic tribes as well some of whom migrated to the British isles, notably the Saxons.

Christianity, of course, reached what is now Germany before it reached what is now the British Isles and the Christmas tree is a legacy of these Germanic tribes. So, for that matter, is the English language part of the Germanic language family.

Still, I concede your win on said technicality. Happy now?