At Fort Hood, National Day of Prayer includes thanks for President Obama

Despite controversy, National Day of Prayer observed quietly at Fort Hood
By Michael Heckman, Sentinel Staff
May 13, 2010 News

As protests and controversy swirled about it, the National Day of Prayer was observed quietly May 6 in Comanche Chapel on Fort Hood.

President Barack Obama, whose justice department is appealing a recent ruling by a U.S. district judge in Wisconsin that the NDOP is unconstitutional, urged citizens to “pray or otherwise give thanks” for the nation’s freedom and blessings.

Because federal judge Barbara Crabb put enforcement of her ruling on hold pending the appeal, thousands of events nationwide, including the celebration at Fort Hood, were held.

“I’m just appreciative of having a president that cares enough about the country to suggest or say that we have prayer as a nation and treats it as relevant and to give thanks for freedoms and diversities across different faiths,” Chap. (Lt. Col.) Ken Sorensen, a family life chaplain, said before the quiet observance began.
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http://www.forthoodsentinel.com/story.php?id=3829

US Military Coordinated Day of Prayer Events with Christian Right Group

US Military Coordinated Day of Prayer Events with Christian Right Group

Jason Leopold


The Public Record

May 01, 2008

April 30, 2008 - At least half-a-dozen active-duty military officials have been working closely with a task force headed by the far-right fundamentalist Christians planning religious events at military installations around the country to commemorate Thursday’s National Day of Prayer.

In working directly with the National Day of Prayer (NDP) Task Force and agreeing to work as event coordinators, these military officials not only violated constitutional provisions governing the separation of church and state but they also signed an oath that states they “believe that the Holy Bible is the inerrant Word of The Living God” and that “Jesus Christ is the Son of God and the only One by which I can obtain salvation and have an ongoing relationship with God,” according to materials posted on NDP Task Force’s website.

Furthermore, the declaration signed by the military officials says that they promise to “ensure a strong, consistent Christian message throughout the nation” and that National Day of Prayer events scheduled to take place at their military installations “will be conducted solely by Christians.”

Lisa Crump, manager of the NDP Task Force’s local coordinators, said that volunteers who are interested in becoming event coordinators, including members of the military, must complete click here "a simple application with contact data and statement of faith, confirming your commitment to Christ is all that's needed to get you on the way to becoming a [National Day of Prayer] Task Force volunteer coordinator."
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http://www.veteransforcommonsense.org/ArticleID/9988

Has the military suddenly forgotten the rich history of chaplains of all faiths in service taking care of the spiritual needs of all the armed forces?

"This inter-faith shrine...will stand through long generations to teach Americans that as men can die heroically as brothers, so they should live together in mutual faith and good will."
President Harry S Truman

Rabbi Alexander Goode
Reverend George L. Fox
Reverend Clark V. Polling
Father John P. Washington
During World War II some 8,000 Army chaplains dedicated their lives and service to the fighting men of The Greatest Generation. Though these chaplains earned 2,453 high military awards for their valor, none received the Medal of Honor.

Four of the seventy-seven who gave their lives in service received one of the most unusual and distinct medals in history. Ordered by special Congressional action, its intent was to carry the same weight and prestige as the Medal of Honor.

It is known simply as The Four Chaplains Medal, and calls to memory four men of God, one Jewish, one Catholic, and two Protestant, who overcame the boundaries of denomination to become brothers serving the same Father.

This is a Chaplain in Iwo Jima

This is a Chaplain in Korea

This is a Chaplain in Vietnam

These are American soldiers who happen to be Muslim
Does the military suddenly think that their soldiers are of any lesser value if they are not Christian, or a particular branch of Christianity? I'm really getting tired of reading reports about this kind of practice. This was always supposed to be about taking care of the spiritual needs of all the troops as they are, in the faith they practice or taking care of them as humans if they have no faith at all. Don't they understand that they are not only hurting the troops by making them feel less worthy and pushing them away from seeking any spiritual council at all? They feel they are not being embraced but forced into deciding to belong or be an outcast.