Veteran Oscar Rodriguez was forcibly removed from a retirement flag folding ceremony where he was asked to speak for mentioning God in speech. Oscar, retired from the air force, has given this speech honoring the flag on several occasions. When Master Sgt. [Charles] Roberson asked him to give the speech at his retirement ceremony he gladly agreed.
The speech he recited was an old version of the "Flag Folding Ceremony Air Force Script" that had been changed to remove God from the text. Oscar believed it was his right as an American civilian to give the speech he was asked to give. Once he began the speech several men dragged him from the stage.
Oscar feels embarrassed by the event saying, "This is one of the most humiliating experiences of my life. All I wanted to do was honor Master Sgt. [Charles] Roberson, his guest, and the flag with my speech. Now Rodriguez is demanding that an apology is issued or he will sue the Air Force.
Here is the speech transcript:
"Our flag is known as the stars and stripes. The union consists of white stars on a blue
field, symbolic of a new constellation. Each star represents one individual state and
together they stand united indivisible. The stripes represent the original 13 colonies that
declared their independence from Great Britain in 1776. The one official, red, is
symbolic for the blood of those who have given their lives to defend and protect our
great nation from all of her enemies, both foreign and domestic. White represents purity,
innocence, and hope. Blue is for vigilance, perseverance, and justice.
But in our hearts our flag stands for many things, evident in the Declaration of
Independence where all men are created equal with rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit
of happiness; the right of the people to alter or abolish any form of government that
becomes destructive.
Our flag stands for the Constitution of the United States of America. Freedom of
religion, freedom of the press, freedom of speech. It provides for security to all of her
citizens, it also provides for a fair and swift trial. It abolished slavery and it gives each
and every individual of age the right to participate in our voting process—to have a say
in his or her’s future.
Our flag is a beacon, recognized around the world to represent freedom during times of
peace, or during times of war. This is what we live for. This is what we will fight for, and
if necessary to touch the head of God in her defense, the charge that we accept as
Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, and Marines is a noble one for there is no heart stronger than
that of a volunteer. Let us pray that God will reflect with admiration the willingness of
one nation in her attempt to rid the world of tyranny, oppression, and misery. It is this
one nation under God that we call, with honor, the United States of America.
God Bless our flag.
God bless our troops.
God bless America."
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That's crazy! It was an old flag folding air force script! Doesn't it say one nation under God in our pledge of allegiance? Doesn't it say In God We Trust on our money?
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