Posted on 04/02/2018 4:41:43 PM PDT by MarvinStinson
Retired Air Force sergeant Oscar Rodriguez, who was forcibly removed two years ago from a retirement ceremony as he recited a traditional passage honoring the flag filed a lawsuit Monday, claiming he was ousted for mentioning the word "God."
Video of the event showed Rodriguez being physically removed by service members at Travis Air Force Base in California as he was delivering a flag-folding speech.
"I was removed from the speech because my script mentioned God. Air force officials did not want me to utter those words."
Rodriguez delivered the speech at the request of Master Sgt. Chuck Roberson, who was retiring from the U.S. Air Force after 33 years of service.
Even though the Air Force revised the script in 2006, Rodriguez claimed it was his right -- and Roberson's right -- to invoke the older version.
"[The U.S. Air Force] did not have the authority to ban him from the base and they did not have the authority to ban him from participating in the ceremony," said Hiram Sasser, general counsel for First Liberty Institute.
The complaint claimed officers at the base exchanged an email shortly after the incident where an officer -- whose name was redacted -- suggested filing assault charges against the men who removed Rodriguez from the ceremony.
Roberson confirmed that it was his wish to have Rodriguez recite the speech at his retirement ceremony.
"I wanted the ceremony to reflect the American values I spent my career defending – respect for God, family, and country," Roberson said.
"I couldn’t believe what happened. I still can’t believe it. All I want now is for the Air Force to apologize for ruining this once in a lifetime moment but they refuse to do so," he said.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
Makes sense.
No, never..
God forgive us for allowing this to happen to our country. Our country has been stolen by the Liberal Elites.
I HAD read post #2 but he was not approved to participate,according to the article.
He was removed for his participation,not what he was saying.
.
May God Bless SMSgt Oscar Rodriguez.
And may the vermin who caused this disrespect be exposed for what they are.
You a member of the Soros/Obama/Jarrett US Military Destruction team?
If we had somebody besides Mattis, a carry-over from the Obama era at the top, who could care less about how the majority in the military feel, who believe in God, we wouldn’t have this.
John Bolton was a good replacement, along with the others who were replaced, it’s time for a change at the top of the defense dept.
Can you imagine how many of such insanity and worse have never been brought to light?
I never thought I’d see the day the American flag would be deemed offensive, either. We have a lot of damage to undo.
Franciscan University Claims Facebook Rejected Ad Because It Shows Jesus on the Cross
http://freebeacon.com/culture/franciscan-university-facebook-rejected-ad-shows-jesus-cross/
Wing Commander at Travis is Col. John Klein; Deputy is Col. Matthew A. Leard.
So where is the Trump Air Force, today, on this imposition of force against free speech, on a dang stage, as they shine their hiney accommodating guys in lipstick and bras, on duty in a war zone??
Really need an answer that respects Christian soldiers, as much as atheist chaplains and Muslims in the Armed Forces, who also closed down chapels on base to accommodate all that “fundamental transformation of America”.
Bark got his rules for radicals. Where are Trump’s traditional rules for soldiers?
MarvinStinson: According to a U.S. Air Force official, flag folding scripts that are religious in nature can be used for retirement ceremonies. “I can’t speak to the specific incident,” Ann Stefanek, an Air Force spokeswoman, told Fox News in 2016. “[But] Air Force personnel may use a flag folding ceremony script that is religious for retirement ceremonies.”
Stefanek continued, “Since retirement ceremonies are personal in nature, the script preference for a flag folding ceremony is at the discretion of the individual being honored and represents the member’s views, not those of the Air Force.”
Before you accuse others of not reading, you should look in the mirror. It was the Air Force official who was violating their own written policy. The wishes of the honoree take precedence over the wishes of the Air Force. He was wrongfully removed.
The Air Force official was referring to the script-——she did NOT refer to the reason that he was not approved to be read the script.
.
It’s an Obamanation!
"Mad Dog" Mattis is not who people think he is. I suggest people look up (James Mattis + Haditha marines), both on a general web search AND a Free Republic search. Mattis betrayed the HIS OWN Haditha marines in order to get his 4th star.
I know Jim Mattis. He’s a great man. I’m sure he tolerated Obama. He is a man of personal honor, compassion, and smarts.
And as the man moved in he quickly learned the value of a good straight left.... Louis L'Amour
I'll have to look for the post on FR but here in a NYT article about it.
Final Resting Place, and Battleground
https://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/31/us/31funerals.html
This happened a number of times on Obama’s watch.
I thought that was over.
I retired out of Travis too. I was just there last week. There probably are some Obama butt boys, that are still there, unfortunately.
This happened a number of times on Obama’s watch.
I thought that was over.
Wish it was.
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