Comments on: Pentagon Denies Flyover Request for Faith Based Event

By: Gaylord Brown

Gaylord Brown — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 23:43:44 +0000

In my opinion, I read some pretty sorry statements in answer to what is very important to many people. Is this because the state of Idaho is 60% owned by our federal Givernment?
Someone should have shown leadership by drawing a line in the sand and doing the flyover anyway instead of cowing down to an ever intrusive government.
While Obama brags about Woodrow Wilson and president FDR’s programs, (Both Marxists) and surrounds himself with the the scum of the earth, I believe the path we are being led to means there will be a great nashing of teeth.
God, country and family! What could be more important then this? Wake up Americans! Gaylord Brown, Klamath Falls, OR

By: Matthew LoFiego

Matthew LoFiego — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 17:33:08 +0000

Thank you, Pastor Nate, that was extremely eloquent and reflects what I believe is the true emotions of what mainstream Christians believe.

By: Nate W.

Nate W. — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 17:08:52 +0000

I am a Christian Pastor and I always look skeptically at these ‘viral’ emails that my members send me. I took a look at the website of this Rally in Idaho and their mission is to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

We pray for our nation in my church every week, but I don’t expect a military flyover. There is a separation of church and state. The state is not to establish any religion. I don’t want the government involved in my church. I have a higher authority and sorry to say, Jesus Christ is not an American patriot. His kingdom is not of this world.

The government is in no way obligated to support a religious organization. I enjoy my freedom of religion, and thank God for it, but I don’t need any help in my church from the government.

Thank you Kirk M. for that link, very informative!

By: Matthew LoFiego

Matthew LoFiego — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 17:20:41 +0000

I don’t wish to engage in a religious debate but I would like to point you in the direction of some of what the Founding Fathers said about Christianity:

http://www.sullivan-county.com/nf0/dispatch/fathers_quote2.htm

“Question with boldness even the existence of a god.” – Thomas Jefferson

And let’s not forget Article 11 of the Treaty of Tripoli from 1797:

As the government of the United States of America is not in any sense founded on the Christian Religion, – as it has in itself no character of enmity against the laws, religion or tranquility of Musselmen, – and as the said States never have entered into any war or act of hostility against any Mahomitan nation, it is declared by the parties that no pretext arising from religious opinions shall ever produce an interruption of the harmony existing between the two countries.”

If only that last part stayed true through the centuries…

By: Mike B.

Mike B. — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 16:59:53 +0000

As far as the religious stuff goes, this country is based on Christianity. Every single one of our Founding Fathers believed in the importance of the Bible and the power of God; even if they did not agree with it. The Constitution they wrote is based on Biblical principles and the goverment should follow it more closely. Under these facts there is no way the government should have denied the flyover for its Christian nature; especially because it is primarily focused on the troops anyway.

By: Matthew LoFiego

Matthew LoFiego — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 21:46:59 +0000

Kirk M, thanks for the additional research. The email definitely remains incorrect, but I’ve been surprised the more that I’ve looked into this issue with the number of flyovers that were approved that in some cases are far from secular or in support of regulations. I’m starting to see the perspective of some of those unhappy about this a little more clearly.

By: Gail Millard

Gail Millard — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 02:27:57 +0000

Another government mealy-mouth excuse to deny support for our fighting men.

It’s been OK for 42 years. Why not now? The excuses given don’t hold a drop of water.

This action is a direct slap at our armed forces.

By: Kirk M

Kirk M — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 18:40:21 +0000

And please excuse the typos in the above comment. I had someone yapping away while I was trying to write.

By: Kirk M

Kirk M — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 15:01:42 +0000

In case anyone is interested, I did a bit of research into the rules and regulations that the denial may have been based on. I used the experience I gained from 12 years in Naval submarine force (Cold War era) to track down the correct DoD instruction. I’m not purposely throwing my service record in anyone’s face only for pointing out the fact that it would be somewhat difficult for someone without this kind of prior experience to know what to look for.

DoD instruction 5410.19 which dates as far back as 1968 and most likely prior but there’s no online copy beyond the 1979 update which cancels the 1968 DoD instruction it replaces and references DoD instruction 5410.18. I can pretty much safely say that the 1968 of version 5410.19 of the same instruction states the same thing.

Here’s the link to the 1979 .pdf of 5410.19. Look at section 6.2 specifically 6.2.1.1:

http://www.dsca.mil/programs/air_trade_shows/air_shows/dodi541019.pdf

Note: The latest update of 5410.19 was November 13th, 2001. Section 6.7.2 is the section of interest in this case.

The points, which supports the above post, is that this directive has been around for quite awhile now.

Just thought you folks might like to know the source.

By: Carl L Parrish

Carl L Parrish — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 04:11:58 +0000

To say that an event is not to recognize or promote any *one* religious faith, then to say that it is a Christian event is not a conflict, when you realize there are more than one Christian faiths.