UPDATE: Veterans Administration Settles with Veteran’s Groups at Houston National Cemetery
by Michelle Lancaster
To recap, my previous article entitled God Bless Our Military … Just Not At The Houston National Cemetery, shared how the Houston National Cemetery Director, Ms. Arlene Ocasio, was requiring grieving families and volunteer groups to not use the words “God” or “Jesus” at any funeral ceremony without her prior approval.
The Department of Veterans Affairs also defended Ms. Arlene Ocasio stating the accusations in the lawsuit against the Department of Veterans Affairs and Ms. Arleen Ocasio were “categorically false.” Local elected officials complained and Congressman John Culberson, U.S. Representative of Texas District 7, took it upon himself to go undercover at a military hero’s funeral and found the truth. He personally witnessed the censorship of freedom of speech and freedom of religion at the funerals of our veterans. Read about his experience here.
Late last week, Houston Chronicle’s Lindsey Wise shared the following terms to the settlement that were agreed to by the mediating parties. These terms are currently awaiting Texas Supreme Court Chief Justice Tom Phillips’ sign off:
- The VA will not interfere with prayers during burial services.
- The VA will not edit or control the speeches of speakers at ceremonies or events at the cemetery containing religious messages or viewpoints and cannot ban religious words in verbal communications between the volunteers and veteran’s families.
- The VA will not ban religious speech or words like “God” or “Jesus” in condolence cards or gifts.
- Payment by the VA of the veterans groups’ $215,000 in legal fees.
- The VA will have a Bible, Cross and Star of David placed on an open shelf within the Chapel, that will be easily accessible and available for use by families if they so choose.
- The local members of VFW District 4 and Houston National Memorial Ladies would resign their positions as official VA volunteers. They will be free to provide their own texts of recitations to funeral homes so that veterans’ families can decide if they would like these groups to provide any services at the cemetery.
Full details of the settlement can be found at the jump here. While the parties involved are not yet commenting on the settlement terms as the judge has yet to sign off on the agreement, I see this as a victory for freedom of speech and freedom of religion. I also believe it’s really sad a lawsuit had to be filed for rights highlighted in our Constitution. This is yet another sign of the sad times we’re in, but our faith will remain strong.
Listen. As I’ve said previously, if you choose not to pray, that’s your choice. I respect all faiths and beliefs so I won’t force mine on you and you don’t force yours on me. Americans should be able to pray as they wish, when they wish, and if they wish, without the permission or supervision of any government entity or any person for that matter. And should those grieving families wish to have the VFW Honor Guard, the Houston National Memorial Ladies or any other volunteers there to help in their greatest time of need for support, they should be able to do so too.
Please continue to help our military and their families by supporting one or more of the following wonderful organizations:
- Operation Home Front
- Veteran’s of Foreign Wars
- Wounded Warrior Project
- Gary Sinise Foundation
- New Beginnings for Military Families
- The Fisher House
- Remember Their Sacrifice
- And Troop Support – Links to multiple websites on how to help!
Thanks to the Liberty Institute for helping these groups. And many thanks to all of you who have called, emailed and voiced your support for the veterans. Without them, we wouldn’t be the greatest nation on the planet. God Bless America and may God continue to bless our military!
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61 Comments
"I love the smell of napalm in the morning…you know…that gasoline smell…it smells like VICTORY."
Not Over.
So the allegations were “categorically false," but the VA agrees in the settlement never to do the falsely alleged things again … hmm, indeed.
The main problem that led to this and similar incidents is we have ALLOWED these elected buttnuggets to tell us what we can eat, where we can smoke, where our children can go to school and that when they get there they can't mention Jesus or God but where THEY then turn around and in true hypocrite fashion allow and endorse a class lesson on Islam and what a wonderful and peaceful religion it is. We have chosen to allow these imbicilles and airheads to run our lives. They are imbicilles,we are idiots.
I'll tell ya. That just lifted my spirits. Another victory for freedom of expression in the greatest country ever! Friggin' tards… you don't like Jesus, or Mary or God, cover you ears. No one likes your crap either, yet we don't stop you from expressing it.
The Secretary, Deputy Secretary, as well as the Under Secretary for Memorial Affairs at the VA also need to be fired for their despicable and dishonorable actions.
Another item on the list of Communism: Eliminate all forms of prayer to a higher person than the people. Worship government.
We are not the Czech Republic and this is not 1930. We WILL resist, fight, kick, scratch and shoot if necessary.
That's why you can't give them an inch…because what they are aiming for is the mile.
The stone is rolling downhill now and gaining momentum. Libs can't stop it and better get out of the way. The American people are speaking out at last.
The EVIL ONE Arleen Ocasio will not be content with this. She will push somewhere within a year or so.
Sounds like the Progressive psychos that are now in control of the VA got a moment of sanity and backed way down. The Vets kick a**!
Amen, or in my belief system Aum.
I wrote most of this on another story but it's sort of an open letter, in a paragraph,to the leftys.
If you think we jus' gonna be all quiet and ride in the back while da left calls for violins agin' us, well hell far man dat jus ain't gunna happen man.We aware doe dat y'all been tryin to provoke us at our own teapartys to become violint an all dat but we been real good so far, SO FAR, but like any moron should know " 'ya just don't poke the bear". I really think you idiots(aka democrats, leftys,communists), underestimate what you are trying to unleash. Most of us patriotic Americans,(aka conservatives, teapartiers etc.),would prefer death to dictators. Good day Sir or Mam, whatever
What exactly is a Religion??? Is a National Atheist society a religion?? Come on .
The VA -actually the taxpayers- should not pay this fine. The fine should be paid from the personal assets of the individuals in the VA who were responsible for the harassment of the survivors of our dead veterans. Otherwise… Good deal.
Agreed. All veterans need to remember her name.
All Americans need to as well. She so very richly deserves a public flogging not a promotion into the VA bureaucracy or any other Governmental Agency which Team Obama is apt to do.
Maybe an updated Amendment to the First should begin as:
"Congress, the Executive Branch. and most certaintly, the A-Holes of the Supreme Court shall make no law"
Maybe then the progressive/marxist clowns will understand…Ok, so I give them more credit than they deserve as they are still trying to figure out what "We the People" means.
In the course of my 40+ years of experience with the V.A., they have become more and more politically correct. I don't know how or why this is happening, but I sure as hell don't like it!
Semper Fi
The way the atheists act it is.
I am happy that they have reversed course. I am unwilling to accept this "settlement" as the final word. Ms. Ocasio needs, deserves, to be FIRED. This action was UNACCEPTABLE!!!
Great point there feets.
If Pastafarism is a religion in Australia why hasn't some smart lawyer sued to define atheism as a religion?
Is this Ocasio gal blood relation to Janet Napalitano,….?????
The entire Federal government,…..
needs to be purged.
They need to get the memo: freedom from religion != religious freedom. Most of America would rather deal with occasionally encountering beliefs that run counter to our own if it means freely practicing our faiths. It's called tolerance, but for the left, "tolerance" when it comes to religion means to "include" everyone by excluding God in any form.
Indeed, you are correct. I concede the point. Unless Ms. Ocasio is promoted to the U.S. Border Patrol in the SW as a Field Agent assigned to perpetual after dusk Border Recon duty armed with naught but a 12 gauge pump and beanbag ammo.
Sadly, the VA being her employer is paying their fees, which is indeed us. However, I'll take it.
The more that these people and agencies get stuck with paying the fees for the winner, the quicker we start reducing frivolous litigation and stick a wooden stake in the black, shriveled heart of progressivism.
Personally, I have no use for religion. That being said, any agreement that does not include the resignation or reassignment of the power-mad dictator currently in charge of the Houston National Cemetery is essentially meaningless. Since she has not been disciplined or sanctioned in this case, she will try something else, probably sooner rather than later.
My guess is she would screw that up as well. She is one more Progressive Socialist Democrat INCOMPETENT Secularist.
It really got started under Clintoon and has picked up speed, ever since.
As bad as this Administration is, Clintoon's was worse.
The entire thing.
The Pigs of Marx and Shariah be damned and purged….
Without punishing the individuals, I don't see that the penalties or fines have disciplined the principle defendants in the VA one iota. It's not their hide on the barn door, but the hide of the taxpayers.
What's to prevent them from repeating similar actions next month with a VA/DOJ legalese interpretation of the meaning of IS being something other than IS?
These vermin never stop pushing.
Purge the Marxist from every corner of our Government!
Sen Joe McCarthy was a GREAT AMERICAN HERO!
That is a FACT JACK.
The question that should be on every persons lips until the election in November 2012 is: Why did we fight WW 2, Korea, Vietnam, The Cold War and all the other hot spots, when we are allowing the Marxist/Fascist Tyranny that we fought and died against, to be installed on this nation by the Obama Junta?
Heil Hitler!
This article elucidates it vary clearly what I am writing about.
There are numerous additional examples, possibly hundreds, of the Obama administration and government agencies installing these tyrannical philosophies on our Nation and Constitution.
Wake up! Obama is the enemy of this nation and our Freedoms and Liberties.
Heil Hitler, Comrade Obama !
Not to mention that they promote and celebrate sexual depravity such as homosexuality.
You are much more generous than I.
I think she should be armed with nothing more dangerous than a flashlight.
a small flashlight.
Flushed down the bowl like the leavings of a too drunk night, and a 2 am run to taco bell.
Now just hold on a minute there, Bubba. What about funerals for our Muslim friends? What about Shinto rights? What about religious rights for American Indians? Hindus? The Greek Orthodox Church? Nothing about the Wiccans? What wanton discrimination! These poor neglected souls cry out for justice! Plus, they might be offended and sue the government.
Get my lawyer on the phone. Quick! Before somebody else spots it! The game's afoot. Time is money.
Oh gee so they agree to abide to the constittuion how American of them
….Make that, a Solar Powered Flashlight…we want to be "Green" now, don't we?!
I see your point re 1930 but miss your point on the Czech Republic which came into existence on January 1 1993
these folks are all covered in the "new" rules,
A great win in a battle that should never have been needed to fight in a war that is a disgrace to the constitution and all those who are true pledge reciting, Americans
God Bless America. God Bless the U.S.A. God Bless you.
"While many have asked for the resignation of Houston National Cemetery Directory Arleen Ocasio, the status of her position is not addressed in this agreement. Hmm."
She's got to go. Our vets, God Bless them, and their families are much to valuable to have an idiot like her in charge!
This is the USA. We don't give a rat's #ss what happens in Australia.
Don't forget the ever increasing infestation of un-elected buttnuggets at all levels of 'government'…. Heck, they are inventing whole new levels down below the waterline…. Its like a modern twist of Dante's Inferno here…
Somebody needs to sue Ocasio in civil court now. With this ruling that should be easy. If the government wont make her pay maybe the courts will. She should be jailed for her violations of everyone else's rights. Yes it is sad that this even had to go to court. You would think this is cut and dry in the constitution. Sadly due to our crappy schools most people don't seem to understand the constitution any longer.
Thanks for the coverage of this very desturbing story. Glad to see it's over now!
Believe you me, the Border Patrol would never have her.
ocasio should have to resign immediately. Chief Justice Phillips better sign off on the bill. truly unbelievable what is taking place in ths country these days! Even a veterans' funeral isn't off limits to liberal loons!
I don't agree that the volunteers should resign. That means that although the VA conceded points, they win. NO. DO NOT RESIGN LADIES!!!
congressman Culberson has threatened to zero out her salary if she doens't go elsehwere. He's in charge of VA appropriations and has the power to do it.
I agree, the fine needs to come out of her pocket – if it hadn't been for her illegal actions, the VA (re: taxpayers) wouldn't be paying this fine.
If you haven't noticed, but…the flinton admin. was all over this admin., lady flinton, holder, emanuel, and so many more…This admin. is just still pushing everything that the flinton admin. was pushing and worse. because this clown isn't even an legal American Citizen…
Try this link. http://www.czechsinexile.org/history/20s30smaastr...
It outlines the history of Czechoslovakia and what occurred in the world during the 1930s. Basically the world stood by and watched the lead up to WWII.
My guess is she would be accepting baksheesh for allowing the illegal importation of people and product through her assigned area of responsibility.
Well, if you want a few facts, no problem. Humanism, a non-theist belief system, is considered a "religion" for tax purposes because they act in accordance with their belief system. The Supreme Court has not yet taken a case to determine if Humanism is considered a "religion" for Establishment Clause purposes.
Technically speaking, Atheism should be defined as a "religious or belief system". This has occurred already in the USA with Humanism. The problem which seems to trip you up is the definition of the word "religion" which is usually defined as a belief system. The law doesn't require nor deny a belief system based on monotheism only; they can be monotheistic, polytheistic, or non-theistic.
Good points and it appears that the Congressman from TX-7 has decided to push for zeroing the salary of Arleen Ocasio until the VA removes her.
Seems like your sarcasm meter has pegged. LOL
The ladies and honor guards are the ones requesting the ability to resign from being a VA volunteer without prejudice. Then they will not be under the control of the VA and can offer their services through the funeral homes instead. They are forcing the VA to provide the same assistance but would no longer be under government control.
Most of America would rather deal with occasionally encountering beliefs that run counter to our own if it means freely practicing our faiths. It's called tolerance, but for the left, "tolerance" when it comes to religion means to "include" everyone by excluding God in any form. garden blog
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