Attacks on ‘God bless the military’ sign at Hawaii Marine Corps base unfounded
News Release from The Chaplain Alliance for Religious Liberty
WASHINGTON — Officials at Marine Corps Base, Hawaii, are examining whether a sign on base that reads, “God bless the military, their families, and the civilians who work with them,” will remain after receiving a letter demanding the sign’s removal or relocation to an area near a chapel.
The letter, issued by the Military Religious Freedom Foundation, inaccurately claims that the sign is a violation of the First Amendment’s Establishment Clause even though courts have repeatedly found such slogans to be acceptable in similar contexts.
“Only someone with a great misunderstanding of the First Amendment or an axe to grind against religion would claim that such a slogan poses a threat or is in any way unconstitutional. The real threat is posed by those who want to whitewash any reference to God from public discourse—even ones as innocuous and uplifting as this one,” said Chaplain (COL) Ron Crews, USA Retired, executive director of Chaplain Alliance for Religious Liberty. “‘God bless our military’ is a slogan little different than the official national motto, ‘In God we trust,’ that appears so publicly on our money, and the courts have repeatedly upheld it. From the founding of our country, every president, including President Obama, has called on God to bless America. We hope that Col. Sean Killeen, the base commander, will stand firm and allow the sign to remain.”
The Chaplain Alliance for Religious Liberty is an organization of chaplain endorsers, the faith groups that provide chaplains for the U.S. military and other agencies needing chaplains. The endorsers in the Chaplain Alliance speak for more than 2,600 chaplains serving the armed forces.
###
Star-Adv Big Q September 29, 2015: What do you think about the “God bless the military” sign on the grounds of Marine Corps Base Hawaii in Kaneohe?
- B. Let it stand; supports troops (69%) - 1,619 votes
- C. Move to chapel grounds (22%) - 526 votes
- A. Remove; too religious for base (9%) - 212 votes
- Total Votes: 2,357
Fox: 'God Bless' sign draws ire from some on Marine Corps Base
Christianity Today: 'God bless the military' sign in US Marine base violates Constitution, group claims
Washington Times: ‘God bless the military’ sign on Hawaii base challenged by religious watchdog
WND: Atheists slam as 'divisive,' unconstitutional
DC: Group Complains about 'God Bless'
Charisma News: Courts Refuse to Bow to Atheist Agenda Over God-Honoring Sign
Star-Adv: Religious base’s sign draws protest
Star-Adv: ‘God bless the military’ sign on Hawaii base is questioned
Marine Corps Times: Religious sign on Marine Corps Base Hawaii draws fire