Category Archives: Spiritual Guidance
Federal District Judge Lifts Ban on Prayer and Welcomes God Back to National Cemeteries
VFW declared victory today in the Federal Lawsuit (Rainey v VA) filed over allegations of religious hostility and unlawful censorship at the Houston National Cemetery.
Federal District Judge Lynn N. Hughes signed a consent decree ordering the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to:
- lift the ban on prayer and the word “God” at national cemeteries
- revoke national policies hostile to religion
- reopen the Chapel at the Houston VA National Cemetery (Its identity had been changed to a “meeting facility.”)
Cemetery will not interfere with prayers, religious expression during burial services. Read: Houston National Cemetary Director Arleen Ocasio Tries to Ban God from Funerals
KANSAS CITY, MO., October 21, 2011 – The Veterans of Foreign Wars today declared victory in a Federal Lawsuit ( Rainey v VA) filed over allegations of religious hostility and unlawful censorship by the VA and its director of the Houston National Cemetery.
Federal District Judge Lynn N. Hughes signed a consent decree ordering the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) to lift the ban on prayer and the word “God” at national cemeteries, to revoke national policies hostile to religion, and to reopen the Chapel which identity was previously changed to “meeting facility” at the Houston National Cemetery.
Texas-based Liberty Institute filed suit on behalf of the VFW over allegations of religious hostility and unlawful censorship by the VA and its director of the Houston National Cemetery. Officials told the VFW they could not have prayer during the burial services of veterans unless the family requested it specifically in writing and submitted the prayer to VA officials for pre-approval.
“The VFW is grateful that the government has restored the basic tenets recognized in the U.S. Constitution – which guarantees fundamental rights of religious expression and freedom of speech – to patriotic Americans who sacrifice everything to defend it. This is indeed a victory,” said VFW National Commander Richard DeNoyer.
“We are thankful that after almost five months of litigation, the government is finally doing the right thing by entering into a consent decree and ending religious hostility at the Houston National Cemetery,” said Jeff Mateer, general counsel for Liberty Institute. “The decree not only impacts religious freedoms in Houston, but at all VA cemeteries nationwide because the government has agreed to modify two national policies hostile to religion.”
The order also requires the VA to change its national policies regarding volunteer honor guards. These changes will now allow the reading of “Thirteen Fold” Flag Recitations unless the deceased veteran’s family requests otherwise, volunteer honor guards to provide their own texts of recitations to the funeral homes for the funeral homes to offer those options to the deceased veteran’s survivor(s) for consideration, and the VFW honor guards to work independently with funeral homes to coordinate provision of volunteer services at the committal services scheduled at the cemetery without interference from the government.
“I am glad to see the VA overturn these policies, which will allow us to perform the entire VFW burial ritual,” said Inge Conley, Commander of VFW District 4 in Houston and the VFW entity that initiated the lawsuit. “We should be able to include prayers, mentions of God, and the phrase, ‘May God grant you, grace, mercy and peace,’ to grieving families laying American soldiers to rest.”
“Truth Bomb” Video Statements from Honor Guard about VA’s Ban on “God” at Military Funerals
American Veterans and members of the VFW Honor Guard speak out, and we should all listen….
Liberty Institute Drops “Truth Bombs,” Releasing New Facts Through Video Statements from Those Affected by the VA’s Ban on “God” at Military Funerals. Please watch THIS VIDEO of VFW Honor Guard Members:
Statements on VA’s Ban of “God” at Military Funerals
History of the 21-gun salute: The practice of firing three rifle volleys over the grave originated in the old custom of halting the fighting to remove the dead from the battlefield. Once each army had cleared their dead, it would fire three volleys to indicate that the dead had been cared for and that they were ready to fight again. The fact that the firing party consists of seven riflemen, firing these volleys does not constitute a 21-gun-salute. It is the three volleys that are significant, not the number of rifles. Three volleys fired over the casket have become a tradition to mean the dead have been cared for. It has evolved into a military salute for the deceased serving their country.
Firing the three volleys over the casket is one of the highest honors to give a deceased military veteran. Our nation’s highest honor is a flag draped over the casket, folded and presented. Tradition is to place three spent shell casings inside the folded flag to prove now and forevermore that the deceased and his flag have had proper military honors. Nothing else is to be placed inside the flag.
The national salute of 21 guns is fired in honor of a national flag, the sovereign or chief of state of a foreign nation, a member of a reigning royal family, and the President, ex-President, and President-elect of the United States. It is also fired at noon of the day of the funeral of a President, ex-President, or President-elect, on Washington’s Birthday, Presidents Day, and the Fourth of July. On Memorial Day, a salute of 21 minute guns is fired at noon while the flag is flown at half mast.
You Are So Blessed
I thought a positive message for today’s post might do every single American a little good! Click on the picture below and remember how truly blessed you are! – VfwLady
Request A Prayer Through Christ For Veterans
For those who believe in the power of prayer, Christ For Veterans offers that power to Veterans in need. Whether you are dealing with deployment separation, suffering from PTSD, homeless, or confronting any Military-related crises, they offer both the spiritual and human resources to help. To request your prayer today, click on the picture below and fill out the form. God Bless America.
