Veterans denied permit to Pray for Peace at Riverside Ca., VA cemetaryby trbell
Sat Feb 19th, 2005 at 17:09:31 PST
The Bush administration has denied Veterans for Peace the right to hold a prayerful ceremony for peace and to honor the US dead in the Iraq war at the Riverside National Cemetery in California.
The ceremony had been approved by cemetery special events coordinator Ray
>Beltran. Cemetery Director Mark Maynard later said a government official in
>Oakland wanted to know more about the content of the peace ceremony. When
>the veterans provided that information the ceremony request was denied.
>Maynard said that they did not want "veterans slamming the current
>administration about policies since 9-11".
Tom Swann, President of the Riverside San Bernardino Veterans for Peace
>(RSVP) said Mr. Maynard's letter is self-explanatory. If you say you
>support the troops and place a wreath you are on message. If you say you
>support the troops so much you want to pray they can come home you are off
>message. Jesus Christ said "Blessed are the peacemakers". When did peace
>become a dirty word? Pope John Paul II said, "war is always a defeat for
>humanity".
Mr. Maynard said in his letter that "according to title 38, United States Code, section 2403(c)" ..."Maynard read from a federal law Thursday that says you cannot say anything
>in opposition to the government at national cemeteries. He interpreted the
>term "government" to mean the party in control. He would not elaborate if
>Senator Barbara Boxer is part of the government. Maynard said he did not
>know if the new rules were enacted under the Patriot Act.
>
Well folks...here is the entire title 38, US code, section 2403:
TITLE 38 > PART II > CHAPTER 24 > ? 2403
Prev | Next
? 2403. Memorial areas
Release date: 2003-06-24
(a) The Secretary shall set aside, when available, suitable areas in national cemeteries to honor the memory of members of the Armed Forces and veterans?
(1) who are missing in action;
(2) whose remains have not been recovered or identified;
(3) whose remains were buried at sea, whether by the member?s or veteran?s own choice or otherwise;
(4) whose remains were donated to science; or
(5) whose remains were cremated and the ashes scattered without interment of any portion of the ashes.
(b) Under regulations prescribed by the Secretary, group memorials may be placed to honor the memory of groups of individuals referred to in subsection (a), and appropriate memorial headstones and markers may be placed to honor the memory of individuals referred to in subsection (a) and section 2306 (b) of this title.
(c) All national and other veterans? cemeteries under the control of the National Cemetery Administration shall be considered national shrines as a tribute to our gallant dead and, notwithstanding the provisions of any other law, the Secretary is hereby authorized to permit appropriate officials to fly the flag of the United States of America at such cemeteries twenty-four hours each day.
Now, according to my sources, this code was current as of January 7th, 2005. Unless it has been changed, I do not see anything in the code that refers to speech at National cemeteries.
Swann feels the Bush administration is selectively enforcing these new
>rules. Swann said that "GOP Congressman Ken Calvert can speak at the
>cemetery about his support for the war but Rep. Joe Baca cannot say he
>voted against the war".
Swann further said it was incorrect for Mr. Maynard to accused the veterans
>of being partisan. All of the participating veteran groups are
>not-for-profit and cannot endorse candidates. The March 5 program included
>a proclamation from Republican Governor Arnold Schwarzenager. Bill Ray,
>military affairs adviser to House Armed Services Committee member Loretta
>Sanchez was scheduled to speak March 5. Federal employees cannot engage in
>partisan politics. The program included church ministers. Swann asked
>"since when did praying for peace become a partisan endeavor"?
>
Indeed, since when has "Peace" become the idea that dare not speak its name?
If any of you live in Southern California in these Representatives district, please consider calling your Reps. or Senator Boxer and pressing them to have this situation reversed. I will be speaking to Mr. Maynard on Monday if he will take my call to get more info on this story. Will keep you posted.
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2005/2/19/20931/6141
Sat Feb 19th, 2005 at 17:09:31 PST
The Bush administration has denied Veterans for Peace the right to hold a prayerful ceremony for peace and to honor the US dead in the Iraq war at the Riverside National Cemetery in California.
The ceremony had been approved by cemetery special events coordinator Ray
>Beltran. Cemetery Director Mark Maynard later said a government official in
>Oakland wanted to know more about the content of the peace ceremony. When
>the veterans provided that information the ceremony request was denied.
>Maynard said that they did not want "veterans slamming the current
>administration about policies since 9-11".
Tom Swann, President of the Riverside San Bernardino Veterans for Peace
>(RSVP) said Mr. Maynard's letter is self-explanatory. If you say you
>support the troops and place a wreath you are on message. If you say you
>support the troops so much you want to pray they can come home you are off
>message. Jesus Christ said "Blessed are the peacemakers". When did peace
>become a dirty word? Pope John Paul II said, "war is always a defeat for
>humanity".
Mr. Maynard said in his letter that "according to title 38, United States Code, section 2403(c)" ..."Maynard read from a federal law Thursday that says you cannot say anything
>in opposition to the government at national cemeteries. He interpreted the
>term "government" to mean the party in control. He would not elaborate if
>Senator Barbara Boxer is part of the government. Maynard said he did not
>know if the new rules were enacted under the Patriot Act.
>
Well folks...here is the entire title 38, US code, section 2403:
TITLE 38 > PART II > CHAPTER 24 > ? 2403
Prev | Next
? 2403. Memorial areas
Release date: 2003-06-24
(a) The Secretary shall set aside, when available, suitable areas in national cemeteries to honor the memory of members of the Armed Forces and veterans?
(1) who are missing in action;
(2) whose remains have not been recovered or identified;
(3) whose remains were buried at sea, whether by the member?s or veteran?s own choice or otherwise;
(4) whose remains were donated to science; or
(5) whose remains were cremated and the ashes scattered without interment of any portion of the ashes.
(b) Under regulations prescribed by the Secretary, group memorials may be placed to honor the memory of groups of individuals referred to in subsection (a), and appropriate memorial headstones and markers may be placed to honor the memory of individuals referred to in subsection (a) and section 2306 (b) of this title.
(c) All national and other veterans? cemeteries under the control of the National Cemetery Administration shall be considered national shrines as a tribute to our gallant dead and, notwithstanding the provisions of any other law, the Secretary is hereby authorized to permit appropriate officials to fly the flag of the United States of America at such cemeteries twenty-four hours each day.
Now, according to my sources, this code was current as of January 7th, 2005. Unless it has been changed, I do not see anything in the code that refers to speech at National cemeteries.
Swann feels the Bush administration is selectively enforcing these new
>rules. Swann said that "GOP Congressman Ken Calvert can speak at the
>cemetery about his support for the war but Rep. Joe Baca cannot say he
>voted against the war".
Swann further said it was incorrect for Mr. Maynard to accused the veterans
>of being partisan. All of the participating veteran groups are
>not-for-profit and cannot endorse candidates. The March 5 program included
>a proclamation from Republican Governor Arnold Schwarzenager. Bill Ray,
>military affairs adviser to House Armed Services Committee member Loretta
>Sanchez was scheduled to speak March 5. Federal employees cannot engage in
>partisan politics. The program included church ministers. Swann asked
>"since when did praying for peace become a partisan endeavor"?
>
Indeed, since when has "Peace" become the idea that dare not speak its name?
If any of you live in Southern California in these Representatives district, please consider calling your Reps. or Senator Boxer and pressing them to have this situation reversed. I will be speaking to Mr. Maynard on Monday if he will take my call to get more info on this story. Will keep you posted.
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2005/2/19/20931/6141
