President Changes Military Funerals.....

[greenberetTFS]

Subject: President Changes Military Funerals..

The below message only means that the man in the White House has plans to destroy all former traditions of this great country by leaps and bounds. It just continues—VOTE NOVEMBER 2012 When I received this email, I could not believe it... So, I checked with Snopes... I learned that it is a Mixtrue.... http://www.snopes.com/politics/military/funeral.asp There has been a change in U.S. military burial protocol! This is a letter that my good friend's husband wrote today after his uncle's funeral yesterday. If Obama does not want his name associated with our military, he does not deserve to be "The President of the United States". - Alice Frankovitch REMEMBER THIS on NOVEMBER 6, 2012 Dear Sean, Today I was incensed at the conclusion of a traditional Serbian-Orthodox funeral for my beloved 85-year-old uncle, Daniel Martich, who proudly served in the US Army during the Korean conflict. During the committal service at a Pittsburgh cemetery the local military detachment performed their ritual, then folded and presented the American Flag to my aunt. As I'm sure you have witnessed during military funerals, a soldier bends to one knee and recites a scripted message to a surviving relative that begins 'On behalf of the President of the United States and a grateful nation, I wish to present you with this flag in appreciation for your husband's service ...' However, today the dialogue was 'On behalf of the Secretary of Defense and a grateful nation...' After the service, I approached the soldier who presented the flag to my aunt to inquire about the change in language. His response was: "The White House notified all military funeral service detachments to immediately remove 'the President' and insert 'the Secretary of Defense'. I couldn't believe what I heard! The soldier just smiled and said, "You can draw your own conclusion, Sir, but that was the order". He, too, was ashamed of what he was required to say. Obama has taken off the gloves. My only response to this endless cesspool of anti-American rhetoric dripping from his mouth is to borrow a phrase "with one minor change" uttered by another temporary Washington resident living in government housing (his wife!): "Today for the first time in my adult life, I am ashamed of the current U.S. President!" I did not serve in the military but my love of country parallels that of people like my late uncle who bled red, white and blue. As a second generation Serbian-American who's heritage produced many patriotic military men and women who fought for freedom both in the United States as well as in the former Yugoslavia (most recently in Kosovo against the slaughter of Serbs by Muslim extremists), I implore you to make the American people aware of this little-known or, at least, publicly acknowledged fact. May God Bless you and your family during these difficult times. Your voice of reason is a welcome change from the insanity plastered across the country by the liberal media. Keep up the great work and thank you for your service to our country. Sincerely, John G. Martich Weirton, WV (304) 374-3518 (304) 723-5414 PLEASE PASS THIS ON TO FRIENDS AND REMEMBER 2012 IS TIME FOR A NEW PRESIDENT AND COMMANDER IN CHIEF No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 2012.0.1913 / Virus Database: 2112/4813 - Release Date: 02/16/12 No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 2012.0.1913 / Virus Database: 2112/4815 - Release Date: 02/17/12...

Big Teddy

[PRB]

Teddy,
This one says that is untrue...just don't know what is?

http://www.truthorfiction.com/rumors...s-funerals.htm

[greenberetTFS]

Originally Posted by PRB

Teddy,
This one says that is untrue...just don't know what is?

http://www.truthorfiction.com/rumors...s-funerals.htm

PRB

I wonder whose more accurate,maybe I was wrong and should just have one of the Admin/Mod guys remove it,but it's obvious,both can be wrong but not both right......

Big Teddy

[Richard]

Teddy,

As far as I know, there is no 'mandated' script for what the presiding Officer/NCO says when the flag is presented to a family member at a military funeral. It was my experience with XVIII ABC, the USAIS, and USASFC (since 9-11) that, in general, the spiel was more, "This flag is presented on behalf of a grateful nation and the United States Army as a token of appreciation for your loved one's honorable and faithful service" vice any reference to the POTUS or SECDEF or anybody else.

I did attend a Navy funeral and I know they referred to something like, "On behalf of the President of the United States and the Chief of Naval Operations, please accept this flag as a symbol of our appreciation for your loved one's service to this Country and a grateful Navy."

I seriously doubt the current or any POTUS would consider messing with such a tradition as it would mean certain political suicide for him and his party.

Think about it...and relax.

Richard

[Streck-Fu]

I seriously doubt the current or any POTUS would consider messing with such a tradition as it would mean certain political suicide for him and his party.

Though I know that there isn't a standard for all veteran services, I'm not sure altering such a tradition would be political suicide for the current Politician in Chief. Most of voters would be unaffected.

[BOfH]

According to http://urbanlegends.about.com/od/mil...l-Protocol.htm the writer of this email confirmed the events, however, some follow up with various agencies, including the DoD, state that there was no change issued.

[fasteddie565]

BT,

While I agree with you on the new CIC, I fear that this may be the work of an overachieving senior field grade or flag officer who dug into the regulation in an effort to better his career.

If you read the snopes research, it discusses the regulatory requirement for a commissioned officer to speak for POTUS. Having spent 28 years in the thick of it, I smell officer corps all over this one.

Your thoughts????

[greenberetTFS]

Originally Posted by fasteddie565

BT,

While I agree with you on the new CIC, I fear that this may be the work of an overachieving senior field grade or flag officer who dug into the regulation in an effort to better his career.

If you read the snopes research, it discusses the regulatory requirement for a commissioned officer to speak for POTUS. Having spent 28 years in the thick of it, I smell officer corps all over this one.

Your thoughts????

FE565

You've got a good point there,it's possible..........

Big Teddy

[Badger52]

FWIW, American Legion and VFW guidelines also usually cite guidance that the words of gratitude at time of flag presentation vary and are to be guided by individual Service guidelines (service being that of the deceased), and that at least one member of the detail (regardless of size) MUST be a veteran of the service of the decedent.

U.S. Army ... This flag is presented on behalf of a grateful nation and the United States Army as a token of appreciation for your loved one's honorable and faithful service.

U.S. Marine Corps ... On behalf of the President of the United States, the Commandant of the Marine Corps, and a grateful nation, please accept this flag as a symbol of our appreciation for your loved one's service to Country and Corps.

U.S. Navy ... On behalf of the President of the United States and the Chief of Naval Operations, please accept this flag as a symbol of our appreciation for your loved one's service to this Country and a grateful Navy.

U.S. Air Force ... On behalf of the President of the United States, the Department of the Air Force, and a grateful nation, we offer this flag for the faithful and dedicated service of [rank and name of deceased].

U.S. Coast Guard ... On behalf of the President of the United States, the Commandant of the Coast Guard, and a grateful nation, please accept this flag as a symbol of our appreciation for your loved one's service to Country and the Coast Guard.

If the next of kin has expressed a religious preference or belief, add ... God bless you and this family, and God bless the United States of America.

http://www.mtlegion.org/resources/mspflagmanual.pdf

[MiTTMedic]

I agree with Richard. I was honored to be on the prestigious detail myself, and said the same thing in Richard's post. Seems to me I had a written go-by that was cut & pasted from the Army reg.

[sf11b_p]

http://www.factcheck.org/2011/10/cha...eral-protocol/

And the Army’s field manual on drills and ceremonies (FM 3-21.5) does not specifically mention referencing the president during the presentation either. In chapter 14, section 5, paragraph (r) and chapter 14, section 6, paragraph (d), the Army field manual suggests that the officer presenting the flag say something like: “Sir/Ma’am, this flag is presented on behalf of a grateful nation as an expression of appreciation for the honorable and faithful service rendered by your loved one.” The Army’s suggested wording is particularly noteworthy since, according to the email, the funeral service was for an Army veteran.

ETA

Actual paragraph from FM 3-21.5 Chapter 14 Funerals

r. After the flag is folded, the senior pallbearer executes a Right Face and places the flag at chest level into the hands of the CAO. The CAO salutes the flag for three seconds before accepting it from the senior pallbearer. The senior pallbearer salutes the flag for three seconds after presenting it to the CAO. The CAO then moves by the most direct route to the next of kin who is to receive the flag. Upon presentation, the CAO renders appropriate remarks such as, “Sir/Ma’am, this flag is presented on behalf of a grateful nation as an expression of appreciation for the honorable and faithful service rendered by your loved one.” After the flag is presented, the CAO returns to his original position.

[Pete]

I worry more about him making drastic changes to pay and benefits.

Too much change and there might not be any vets to bury.