Thursday Evening, August 24, 2023 |
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DEMAND BY MRFF AND OUR USAF VET CLIENT
RESULTS IN WILKES-BARRE VA CENTER
DOING THE RIGHT THING
BY REMOVING BIBLE FROM POW-MIA TABLE
An Air Force veteran who receives medical care at the Wilkes-Barre VA Medical Center in Pennsylvania, reported to MRFF that a Christian religious book, "New Testament Psalms Proverbs,” had been placed on the facility’s POW-MIA table. This Air Force veteran had previously filed a successful formal complaint with a Patient Advocate at the facility
to get a Bible removed from the table.
Both Mikey Weinstein and MRFF’s veteran client, copying MRFF, emailed the Patient Advocate about the addition of this new Christian book, and within 3 hours the book was removed, with the Patient Advocate writing:
“1012 AM I personally just walked over and
took it off the table.”
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Excerpt from thank you letter to MRFF by
Air Force Veteran/MRFF Client:
[Emphasis and edit added by MRFF]
"I'm incredibly grateful that you [MRFF] responded so quickly to advocate on my behalf, to protect my freedom from religion [...]
[...] It's become increasingly obvious to me, that MRFF is a bulwark not just in the fight for religious freedom but also the fight to protect our fragile democracy and to keep our republic.
In closing, all I can say Mikey, is please "AIM HIGH" and "FLY. FIGHT. WIN." this battle on behalf of all Americans.
Thank you, Sir! 🫡"
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A Top Official at VA Medical Center Wilkes-Barre Responds to MRFF Requesting Notification If Any More Books of Faith are Found on POW-MIA Table
Thursday, August 24, 2023
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From: [A Top Official at VA Medical Center Wilkes-Barre's Name and Email Withheld]
Subject: RE: [EXTERNAL] REQUEST TO REMOVE Book of Faith from the POW-MIA Table commemoration display
Date: August 24, 2023 at 3:27:50 PM MDT
Cc: [CCs Withheld]
Mikey,
Thank you for taking time to speak with me this afternoon about this concern. As we discussed, our memorabilia area is located in an open space of the Medical Center for Veterans, employees and visitors to enjoy. Our POW/MIA table has all the items listed on the DoD website, minus the book of faith which is optional. At times materials are removed or added by individuals visiting the Medical Center since the table is not behind a locked cabinet. Our team periodically checks the area to ensure the space is used appropriately and we do remove items which have been left intentionally, or by accident. In the future, if a book of faith is found to be displayed on the table, please notify myself or our Patient Advocate, [VA Medical Center Wilkes-Barre Patient Advocate Name Withheld], so we can have it removed.
[Emphasis added by MRFF]
Again, thank you for speaking with me and have a wonderful evening.
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MRFF Founder and President Mikey Weinstein Responds to a Top Official at VA Medical Center Regarding Wilkes-Barre's Swift Action on
Removing Bible from POW-MIA Table
Thursday, August 24, 2023
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Sent: Thursday, August 24, 2023 5:10 PM
To: [A Top Official at VA Medical Center Wilkes-Barre's Name and Email Withheld]
Cc: [CCs Withheld]
Subject: Re: [EXTERNAL] REQUEST TO REMOVE Book of Faith from the POW-MIA Table commemoration display
…….thx for the great phone call we just had, [A Top Official at VA Medical Center Wilkes-Barre's Name Withheld]!!…..we will stand by for the wrap-up, concluding/confirming e-mail you are kindly preparing as per our just-completed chat…..MRFF salutes your Wilkes-Barre VA facility’s adherence to inclusively doing the right thing here for all U.S. veterans who utilize your medical resources irrespective of their own or anyone else’s religious or non-religious views!!….all best, [A Top Official at VA Medical Center Wilkes-Barre's Name Withheld]…….Mikey 505-250-7727
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Air Force Veteran's Email to Patient Advocate at
V.A. Medical Center Wilkes-Barre Requesting Removal of Bible Unconstitutionally Placed on
POW/MIA Memorial Display
Wednesday, August 23, 2023
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From: [U.S. Air Force Veteran/MRFF Client Name Withheld]
Sent: Wednesday, August 23, 2023 8:58 AM
To: [VA Medical Center Wilkes-Barre Patient Advocate Name and Email Withheld]
Subject: [EXTERNAL] REQUEST TO REMOVE Book of Faith from the POW-MIA Table commemoration display
All Concerned:
I’m writing to request the VA medical Center in Wilkes-Barre, PA respect the religious freedom of ALL Veterans and their families and remove the New Testament Psalms and Proverbs Bible from the POW-MIA Table commemoration display.
This request is In accordance with Department of Defense (DoD) and Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) policies which state:
“ The table is set with a white tablecloth, a single candle, a book of faith (optional), an inverted glass, and a single red rose in a vase, around which is tied a red or yellow ribbon.”
On 31 JULY 2023, I lodged a formal complaint with [VA Medical Center Wilkes-Barre Patient Advocate Name Withheld], Patient Advocate regarding my concerns with the placement of a Christian bible on the POW-MIA Table located in the museum display area.
The bible was removed and not on display during my visit for medical testing on 10 AUGUST 2023
I think it is incredibly disrespectful that this latent promotion of Christianity continues because the fact is that millions of U.S. service-members of many different faiths or no faith at all have served, fought, died to protect all of us, to support and defend the First Amendment of the Constitution for the United States and comply with Federal regulations which prohibit the promotion of a single faith over others.
[Emphasis added by MRFF]
It is my sincere hope that appropriate action is taken. Thank you.
Respectfully,
[U.S. Air Force Veteran/MRFF Client Name Withheld]
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Response from MRFF Founder and President
Mikey Weinstein to VA Medical Center
Wilkes-Barre Patient Advocate
Wednesday, August 23, 2023
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Sent: Wednesday, August 23, 2023 9:41 AM
To: [VA Medical Center Wilkes-Barre Patient Advocate Name and Email Withheld]
Cc: [CCs Withheld]
Subject: [EXTERNAL] REQUEST TO REMOVE Book of Faith from the POW-MIA Table commemoration display
Please advise ASAP as this display is WRONG on many levels; illegal, unethical & Immoral!!!!….. Mikey Weinstein/ MRFF…..
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Response from VA Medical Center
Wilkes-Barre Patient Advocate Confirming the Removal of Bible from POW-MIA Table
Wednesday, August 23, 2023
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From: [VA Medical Center Wilkes-Barre Patient Advocate Name and Email Withheld]
Subject: RE: [EXTERNAL] REQUEST TO REMOVE Book of Faith from the POW-MIA Table commemoration display
Date: August 23, 2022 at 8:12 AM
To: Michael L Weinstein <mikeyw4444@icloud.com>
1012 AM I personally just walked over and took it off the table.
[Emphasis added by MRFF]
Thank you,
[VA Medical Center Wilkes-Barre Patient Advocate Name Withheld]
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U.S. Air Force Veteran/MRFF Client Email of Gratitude For MRFF's Success In Bible Removal from the POW-MIA Table at Veterans Affairs Healthcare System (VAHS) Wilkes-Barre
Wednesday, August 23, 2023
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From: [MRFF Client's name and email withheld]
Subject: THANK YOU / VAHS Wilkes-Barre POW-MIA Table display
Date: August 23, 2023 at 9:37 PM MST
Greetings Mikey:
I can not fully express how much I appreciate your personal assistance and the tremendous work that Military Religious Freedom Foundation (MRFF) does to protect the First Amendment rights of U.S. Armed Forces Service Members, Military Veterans and their families. I've followed and donated money to support your organization for quite some time now but never thought I'd be asking for your assistance.
I enlisted in the U.S. Air Force (Active) in January 1987, joined the U.S. Air Force Reserve in October 1991 and served until I was medically retired in the rank of Master Sergeant/E-7 in January 2014. Across those 27 years, I received six(6) DD Form 214's for every period of Active Duty I served and each one of those DD Form 214's indicate that my Character of Service was HONORABLE. Although my first issued dog-tag stated my faith as "Roman Catholic", I was already questioning the religious beliefs (indoctrination) of my Catholic upbringing. During my military service, I grew more disillusioned with the overt Christian dogma and hypocrisy professed by Senior Enlisted and Commissioned Leaders whom I served under. By 2000, I insisted that my dog-tags state no faith. In 2008, I opted to AFFIRM, rather than to Swear, my final Oath of Re-Enlistment. I received a lot of flak for that decision, but I knew it was the right time and the best one I could make for my conscience. Since my retirement, I adhere to Secular Humanism and am an avowed Atheist -- much more spiritual, far less religious.
In late May 2023, I temporarily relocated from Illinois to Pennsylvania to support my beloved through his personal medical crisis. I am very fortunate that the Department of Veterans Affairs Healthcare System is nationwide and I was quickly able to establish my eligibility in order to continue my medical care and treatment with the VA Wilkes-Barre Healthcare System.
During my first visit to the main facility in late June 2023, I observed that a Christian Bible was prominently featured on the POW-MIA table display in the Museum area located on the first floor. At that time, I took a picture and quietly inquired about the display; I was told that it was a temporary placement. During my next visit, on 31 July 2023, I took another photo but this time I formally asked that the Bible be removed because the POW-MIA table was not set in accordance with the regulations of the Department of Defense (DoD) and Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) nor was it in compliance with the 2018 Defense POW-MIA Accounting Agency(DPAA) Toolkit which has very specific guidelines describing the symbolic items which may be included on a POW-MIA table display. I met with one of the VAHS/Wilkes-Barre Patient Advocates, [VA Medical Center Wilkes-Barre Patient Advocate Name Withheld], to express my concerns and lodged a formal complaint about the overt promotion of Christianity over other religious faiths that day. I did get some push-back from her -- I was told that the DoD regulation states that a "book of faith" is OPTIONAL. But I stood my ground and before I left the facility that day, I was told that the Christian bible would be removed. I had another medical appointment on 10 August 2023 and I observed that the POW-MIA table display did NOT include a "book of faith". I took a photo to document it.
Today, 23 August 2023, at approximately 0740 hours EDT, I observed that a petite book titled "New Testament Psalms Proverbs" with a digitized desert camouflage background was placed on the POW-MIA table display. Once again, I took a photo to document the situation. I then sent an email to [VA Medical Center Wilkes-Barre Patient Advocate Name Withheld], which I cc'd MRFF on, to ask that "book of faith" be removed. By the time I left the facility at approximately 1130 hours EDT, the "book of faith" was removed from the POW-MIA table display.
I'm incredibly grateful that you responded so quickly to advocate on my behalf, to protect my freedom from religion.
Especially since I'm aware that MRFF is currently being attacked by many Republican / Conservative / GQP (not a typo -- Q for QAnon) Christian nationalist members of Congress for the vital advocacy that MRFF provides in support of those wearing the uniform who CAN NOT advocate for themselves without severe repercussions to their careers! Of particular concern to me is the reprehensible amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act which would make "it ILLEGAL for members of the military to communicate with or respond to MRFF" which is sponsored by Representative Michael TURNER (R-OH/10th Congressional District). I was absolutely outraged and I've already contacted Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Representative Mike BOST (R-IL/12th Congressional District) asking them to OPPOSE this heinous effort.
As I stated earlier, I've been following and supporting the extraordinary efforts which you and the Military Religious Freedom Foundation (MRFF) staff undertake to ensure "the Constitutional guarantee of religious freedom" for every U.S. Armed Forces Service Member, Military Veteran and their families. It's become increasingly obvious to me, that MRFF is a bulwark not just in the fight for religious freedom but also the fight to protect our fragile democracy and to keep our republic.
In closing, all I can say Mikey, is please "AIM HIGH" and "FLY. FIGHT. WIN." this battle on behalf of all Americans.
Thank you, Sir! 🫡
[Emphasis added by MRFF]
Respectfully
[U.S. Air Force Veteran/MRFF Client Name Withheld]
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BACKGROUND:
Military Bases and VA Facilities
Where MRFF's Efforts have Successfully
Resulted In Bibles Being Removed or Replaced
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If you haven't already, please take a minute to submit our petition letter opposing Turner's amendment to your representative and senators.
This form submits a letter to Congress on your behalf, which
will be sent to your U.S. Representative in the House and your
U.S. Senators urging removal of Christian Nationalist Rep. Turner's
blatantly unconstitutional NDAA amendment and, additionally,
sends a copy to the entire Senate Armed Services Committee.
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From: (Christian conservative attorney’s name withheld)
Subject: NDAA
Date: August 21, 2023 at 11:45:50 AM MDT
Hope this finds you well, Mikey. Just wanted you to know I contacted both my (democratic) senators and my Republican representative on this, with this being the gist of my comment:
“Soon the Senate and House will be reconciling the House and Senate versions of the 2024 NDAA. I am concerned that the House version was amended to prohibit any expenditure of federal funds to respond to advocacy work by the Military Religious Freedom Foundation. As an attorney who has litigated First Amendment cases for 25 years, I know that provision is patently unconstitutional viewpoint discrimination. Fortunately, the amendment was omitted in the Senate version and it should stay omitted. I disagree with the MRFF on just about every point of law–its president, Mikey Weinstein, takes a hyper-separationist view of religion that our Founders wouldn’t recognize and the First Amendment does not support. But I cannot stand by when such blatantly unconstitutional viewpoint discrimination is afoot in federal budgeting. As I read the House amendment, it would even preclude MRFF from using the Freedom of Information Act to obtain public documents. For the sake of free speech, please ensure that anti-MRFF amendment does not sneak back in through reconciliation. The answer to bad speech is more speech, not censorship. Please preserve that principle in the NDAA.”
Hang in there. Hopefully the amendment will be thoroughly buried.
(Christian conservative attorney’s name withheld)
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