Air Force Removes Bible From POW/MIA Missing Man Table Display at Patrick Air Force Base in Florida
On March 14 Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark Welsh told members of the House Armed Services committee that there was no war on religious liberty.
“The single biggest frustration I’ve had in this job is the perception that somehow there is religious persecution inside the United States Air Force,” the general told lawmakers. “It is not true.”
If that’s true, perhaps Gen. Welsh could explain why a Bible was removed from a POW/MIA Missing Man Table at Patrick Air Force Base in Florida. The removal of the Good Book was first reported by the Gannett-owned newspaper Florida Today.
Base officials confirmed to Fox News Monday that the entire Missing Man Table display had been removed from a dining hall because of the Bible. A press statement said the inclusion of the Bible ignited “controversy and division.”
Missing Man Tables are a long honored military tradition. The tables serve as a reminder of the plight of brave Americans who are missing in action or who are being held prisoner of war. The display includes a white table cloth setting with an inverted glass, a plate with lemon and salt, a single rose, a candle and a Bible.
Each item is an integral part of the Missing Man Table & Honors Ceremony, according to the National League of Families of American Prisoners and Missing in Southeast Asia.
“The Bible represents the strength gained through faith in our country, founded as one nation under god, to sustain those lost from our midst,” the official ceremony document states.
However, someone at Patrick Air Force Base objected to the Bible’s placement on the table.
The following is the Air Force’s explanation of what happened:
“The 45th Space Wing deeply desires to honor America’s Prisoners and War (POW) and Missing in Action (MIA) personnel. Unfortunately, the Bible’s presence or absence on the table at the Riverside Dining Facility ignited controversy and division, distracting from the table’s primary purpose of honoring POWs/MIAs. Consequently, we temporarily replaced the table with the POW/MIA flag in an effort to show our continued support of these heroes while seeking an acceptable solution to the controversy. After consultation with several relevant organizations, we now intend to re-introduce the POW/MIA table in a manner inclusive of all POWs/MIAs as well as Americans everywhere.”
Wild Thing’s comment………..
I continue to be shocked at what has been happening with our awesome military.So many things that are occurring and only because of showing weakness in the face of a few objecting. This kissing up to the progressives including the ones in our military is disgusting and unforgivable.
I spent 26 years in the Air Force and am proud of my service and the time I was in but, sad to say, I’m ashamed of today’s Air Force. Today’s Air Force is leading the way of prevision in the military. Their rapid acceptance of Sodomites and promoting their and transvestite activities is disgusting. Besides this incident which is a slap in the face of all POW/MIA’s, we have the incident where the USAF Academy made cadets take bible verses off their white boards, NCO’s at Lackland AFB persecuted because of their religious beliefs against homosexual marriage, drag queen groups performing on AF instillation’s, and more. Today’s Air Force isn’t your fathers Air Force; it’s not even your big brothers Air Force.
A few aetheist or gay activists seem to rule the roost these days. One activist raises a complaint and sorry assed “leaders”, whether in the military or the civilian world, rush to avoid seeming non-PC.
I have little against minorities whether they be gay, racial or aetheist. I do though absolutely HATE the activist bastards who demand that the rest of us live by their practices and beliefs. And, I HATE the people in power who rush to fulfill the activists demands. Screw them all.
I Served in the United States Air Force from June 1983 to June 1989, The United States was Formed By Men who Believed in God and founded our Country on this Belief. I do not mind having the religious freedom so everyone can practice their religions and beliefs here in the USA but i do mid them trying to change how our country was founded and the original core beliefs.you came to this country to live do not try to change it, if you do not like it GTFO. Put back the missing mans table with the Bible and as AIR FORCE OFFICERS stand up for what the United States Air Force is about quit kissing the a– of every complaing idfiot out their.
Well said David…very well said.