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Houston Vets Claim Censorship of Prayer

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    Is Department of Veterans Affairs banning use of the word 'God' at funerals?

  • Duration 5:52
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-- reaction this hour about a group of veterans who say that the Department of Veterans Affairs is preventing them from same words like god.

And Jesus during funeral ceremonies at the Houston national cemetery.

Joining me now is Maryland -- Secretary of the national memorial ladies a group that makes a point to attend every soldier's funeral at that cemetery good to see in this -- Thank you Gretchen it's good to be here so you are part of a volunteer organization.

And I know that the military is near and dear to your heart with.

The -- to your family members why.

Well my father was an army veteran he was in for 28 years he was with patton's army.

My husband -- -- naval officer during the Vietnam War.

My daughter was the naval officer kicking at the nuclear power school and my son in law was stationed on aircraft carrier in the Persian golf.

So -- veterans have always been there for me.

And now it's time for me to be there for the veterans.

And that is why I do what I do at the Houston national cemetery.

How many funerals veterans excuse me for interrupting how many funerals do you attend a week as a volunteer.

Anywhere between fifty and sixty funerals a week.

-- -- And it every you -- at every funeral we have two ladies out there every day.

Because often we ourselves have twelve or thirteen funerals to attend.

We only -- the veterans we don't do.

The wives -- -- of them of the pattern that's amazing this cap that you would take that amount of time out of your private life.

To go in console these family.

And heart affect -- affiliation and in grief that you tried to console them about.

Is saying to them compliments you.

And maybe even uttering the word Jesus from time to time yes and what happened recently somebody told -- you can't say that anymore.

That's correct we were directed that we could no longer say god -- you.

Well we do Gretchen at each funeral is we write a personal note on a card.

That we -- bent to the widow son daughter whomever is receiving.

And this is just a condolence card and then we talked to them for just a few minutes -- even say a few minutes about thirty seconds.

And at that time we usually say Catholic hue and Catholic here family and we were directed we could no longer say that still in the cards.

I have opted to now say peace be with you and peace be with your family.

But when we get -- -- the funeral.

And they arrived with clergy.

I think it's pretty safe to say that we can say Kaplan -- because.

If the priest -- minister is there I don't understand why we can't -- no -- -- understand we did reach -- the department of veterans affairs and the Houston national cemetery for -- comment on.

On why these words have been banned and we have as of yet to hear anything back from them.

But what have they told you when you've tried to get answers -- They've just well we've not gotten any.

Any paperwork stating that this as a rule.

To our knowledge this -- not been enforced anywhere else I don't know that this is just hearsay.

But.

It's very hard for me to be at the funeral of one of our veterans.

Especially when it's a homeless veteran and that is why were really there so no one has ever buried alone and and we just make that decision that we will say Kaplan Q how can someone come and talents no you can't.

These people gave our lives their lives for us.

And we are living realize we are now because of them.

No doubt and how does how does it make you feel this -- and will you can handle you all -- appalled but will you continue to it to say it even if it if you have to.

-- -- -- -- -- -- -- What I'm hoping is that the government won't make a wise decision.

And we'll and we'll stop all this nonsense.

But if our government doesn't do it and I hope -- judge here in Houston will overrule.

Like he did for Memorial Day -- my hope.

So currently.

When you console the grieving family and they arrived with clergy.

You cannot say the word god -- -- We've been instructed not to.

And every memorial lady has her own choice on what they do.

And I can only speak for myself.

It's very difficult to come up with the closure.

Without saying god let human god bless your family.

Let me ask you this is capped when the family -- you and you console them.

What reaction you get.

All.

Many of them are -- are crying -- just received the American flag in their clutching it to their breasts they're crying.

And sometimes they don't even look at you but when you say some words to -- and you tell them to hang onto their wonderful memories.

And we're thanking them for that the service that their loved one did.

Nine out of ten times -- stop.

And I'm usually holding their hand and they will squeeze my hand and then -- say.

Thank you.

A lot of people don't know who we are right until we till they have a funeral out there so if you get a college if you wanna memorial lady at the funeral.

No one really knows who we are.

-- I've been doing it for two years and I've received wonderful.

Thank you use when I can donate my life very special we'll make -- like careful what a wonderful volunteer service that you do the members of the military who have lost their lives.

-- Maryland kept keep up the fight and continue to keep the suppressed on the story.

We will and -- thank you so much for allowing me to be on with you today --

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