Monday Afternoon, May 31, 2021
MEMORIAL DAY 2021
MRFF remembers and honors
all service members who have made
the ultimate sacrifice for our country.
MRFF VICTORY!

MRFF'S DEMAND RESULTS IN
CHRISTIAN PROSELYTIZING
ARTICLE'S SWIFT REMOVAL FROM
JOINT BASE MYER HENDERSON'S WEBSITE

Chaplain (Lt Col) Scott Koeman used the Chaplain's Corner
of the official May 20, 2021, Joint Base Myer Henderson
post newspaper, The Pentagram, to in-your-face
proselytize and tout Christian exclusivism.
Before - As the article appeared on the website 5/20/21
After - As the article on the website now appears
The link below shows how the article appeared before removal.


Selected relevant quotes from the Pentagram article:
Chaplain's Corner: Forgiveness - The Last Great Hope

"It is because we are forgiven that we have a relationship with God. It is because we are forgiven that we shall enter the very gates of heaven."

"The only reason we are forgiven is that at some point in our lives we recognized our sin and repented of it. We acknowledged to Jesus that we were sinners; we asked for Christ’s forgiveness; we confessed that Jesus Christ is Lord; and, we were baptized into him. On that day, we passed from death to life. We were born again in Jesus Christ."
The brief email exchange between
MRFF Founder and President Mikey Weinstein
and Joint Base Myer Henderson that resulted
in the overt Christian supremacist proselytizing being removed from the base's website
From: Michael L Weinstein <mikeyw4444@icloud.com>
Subject: Joint Base Myer Henderson Chaplain Corner: The only way to Heaven is Jesus
Date: May 25, 2021, 1:04 PM MDT
To: thomas.s.sivak.civ@mail.mil
Cc: Information Weinstein <mikey@militaryreligiousfreedom.org>

Tom, based on the egregious violations of the No Establishment Clause of the First Amendment, as well as construing constitutional caselaw and a large number of DOD regulations instructions and directions, the Military Religious Freedom Foundation, on behalf of over 20 military complainants, the majority of whom happen to be Christians and a number of whom reside at your actual installation, respectfully requests that you remove the unconstitutional, fundamentalist Christian supremacist Chaplain’s-sermon from the “Chaplain’s Corner” of the all too official military website we have sent you immediately!!!… there is a time place in manner for this Lieutenant Colonel/chaplain to disseminate his sectarian proselytizing Christian religious views but on this official military website is precisely NOT the legal time place and manner to do so!!… There is also no required disclaimer on that part of the website which by regulation is supposed to be there… Secretary of Defense Austin has made it clear that his number one priority is to be the Lode Star for religious and racial diversity, unity and respect… What this Chaplain has spewed on your website is DIRECTLY counter to that effort and is incredibly destructive to good order, morale, discipline and Unico Asian… Please remove that noxious Christian proselytizing article right away and see to it that the chaplain is appropriately punished as well as anyone else who directly or indirectly is responsible for that terrible article being published on your website… Please advise ASAP… Thank you… Mikey Weinstein… Founder and president… Military Religious Freedom Foundation… Standing by at 505-250-7727…

From: Michael L Weinstein <mikeyw4444@icloud.com>
Subject: Joint Base Myer Henderson Chaplain Corner: The only way to Heaven is Jesus
Date: May 26, 2021 at 8:01:57 AM MDT
To: david.d.bowling.mil@mail.mil
Cc: Information Weinstein <mikey@militaryreligiousfreedom.org>

….good morning, Colonel Bowling….yesterday, I spoke to Tom Sivak regarding this unfortunate matter below…..the Military Religious Freedom Foundation (MRFF) is representing a fair number of outraged senior military and civilian personnel, many of whom are practicing Christians themselves, and a number of whom reside on your installation, about this serious problem below…..Sivak was supposed to get back to me…but he never did and today I just found out from your Exec. Ass’t, Carla, that Sivak is now “on leave”……doesn’t sound like you all are taking this matter very seriously at all??!!….I am asking you, Colonel, to please call me back about this unconstitutional Chrstian proselytizing on your official JBMH website asap…..thank you…Mikey Weinstein….Founder and President, MRFF…..standing by at 505-250-7727

On May 28, 2021, at 6:06 AM, Simpkins, Julia F CIV USARMY ASA (USA) wrote:

CLASSIFICATION: UNCLASSIFIED
 
Dear Mr. Weinstein,
 
The Joint Base Commander, COL Bowling, has asked that I respond directly to you. Thank you for your interest in the Pentagram and please be advised that subject article has been removed.
 
Very Respectfully,
Julia Simpkins
Acting Director of Public Affairs
Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall
803-729-6532
 
We are America’s Post

From: Michael L Weinstein <mikeyw4444@icloud.com>
Subject: Joint Base Myer Henderson Chaplain Corner: The only way to Heaven is Jesus (UNCLASSIFIED)
Date: May 28, 2021 at 7:23:28 AM MDT
To: "Simpkins, Julia F CIV USARMY ASA (USA)" <julia.f.simpkins.civ@mail.mil>
Cc: david.d.bowling.mil@mail.mil, Information Weinstein <mikey@militaryreligiousfreedom.org>

...thank you SO much, Julia, for your and Colonel Bowling’s expeditious and just action in support of our Constitution….most grateful….Mikey Weinstein/MRFF

MRFF HAS BEEN FIGHTING THE
SYSTEMIC RISE OF CHRISTIAN NATIONALISM
FOR OVER FIFTEEN YEARS;
MAJOR NEWS MEDIA FINALLY CATCHES ON
Memorial Day is for Remembering and Honoring

By: MRFF Board Member John Compere

Monday, May 31, 2021
John Compere
Memorial Day is our national holiday for remembering and honoring the patriotic men and women who sacrificed their lives in the military service of this country to preserve the freedoms we enjoy as Americans. Many Americans do not know its real meaning according to past Gallup polling. 

Memorial Day was officially established by the 1971 National Holiday Act to memorialize our brave military members who gave their lives defending this country. It is always observed the last Monday of May (May 31st this year) and starts the summer vacation season. The 2000 National Moment of Remembrance Act requests that we pause at 3pm for one minute as an act of national unity to remember America's fallen military heroes. 

“The true heroes, the real heroes are the boys who fought and died, and will never come home.” - AUDIE MURPHY (Texan, most decorated World War II soldier, western movie actor, 1924-1971).

Memorial Day should not be confused with Veterans Day (every November 11th) recognizing living and deceased military veterans who honorably served any length of time and are no longing serving or Armed Forces Day (3rd Saturday in May) recognizing military men and women currently serving. We have three different national observances commemorating three distinct categories of military service.

The genesis of this memorial for military members who made the supreme sacrifice came from Southern and Northern women who decorated the graves of all fallen soldiers with flowers in respectful remembrance during and after the Civil War.

The first American revolutionary fatality was Crispus Attucks, an American stevedore of African and Native descent, killed by the British during the Boston Massacre over 250 years ago. Eight citizen-soldiers fell a few years later near Lexington, Massachusetts during the beginning of American Revolution armed hostilities. 1,354,644 have perished fighting for this country and 40,031 remain missing in action. This ultimate sacrifice is still being made by our brave military men and women fighting the prolonged war on international terrorism. There will be more as long as we humans remain a warring species.  

“Only the dead have seen the end of war” - PLATO (Greek Philosopher)

Patriotic ceremonies and events are held throughout the country, including the National Memorial Day Concert on the Capitol lawn and a ceremonial wreath placed by the President on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery. 

“Looking across this field, we see the scale of heroism and sacrifice. All who are buried here understood their duty. All stood to protect America.” - GEORGE W. BUSH (Texan and 43rd President at Arlington)

On Memorial Day, the American flag is traditionally raised to the top of the staff in the morning and lowered to half-staff until noon when it is raised back to full staff for the rest of the day. Lowering the flag to half-staff represents remembrance of those fallen. Return to full staff symbolizes their memory being raised by the living who resolve not to let their sacrifice be in vain, but to rise up and continue the fight for liberty and justice.

Another American tradition observed during Memorial Day weekend is the placing of coins on graves of deceased military members who lost their lives serving our country. It is a symbolic act of respect and gratitude for their service and sacrifice. Coins of different denominations have distinct meanings (Penny – you knew the deceased, Nickel – you and the deceased attended basic training together, Dime – you and the deceased served together, and Quarter – you were present when the deceased was killed). The custom of placing coins with a deceased originated in ancient Greek mythology.

Vietnam War veterans established a different but related coin tradition. Change of any denomination can be left at the grave of a deceased military comrade as the “down-payment” on a promise to buy him or her a drink when you meet in the afterlife.

Wherever you may be this Memorial Day, please pause for a moment to remember with patriotic pride and genuine gratitude our brave military men and women who sacrificed their precious lives for our cherished American liberties.

“You silent tents of green,
We deck with fragrant flowers,
Yours has the suffering been,
The memory shall be ours.”
- HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW (American poet, 1807-1882)

Brigadier General John Compere, US Army (Retired)
Disabled American Veteran (Vietnam Era)
Board Member, Military Religious Freedom Foundation
MRFF's Inbox

Mickey,

I think I understand the basic mission of the MRFF. But just to clarify, does it mean freedom OF religion or freedom FROM religion? I don’t understand the opposition to a marker that was bought and paid for with private funds, located on a private plot purchased by the family and done so with honorable intentions that is not intended to preclude anyone from worshipping in the manner they choose but is a heartfelt expression of their spiritual beliefs?

The young man who organized it called it a “dream come true”, you termed it a “wretched, unconstitutional dumpster fire”. Surely not everything is a violation of something in your mind. Surely there can be a difference in beliefs without one cancelling out the other. Can’t there?

Respectfully,
(name withheld)

To see responses from
MRFF Founder and President Mikey Weinstein,
MRFF Board Member John Compere:
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