MRFF’s Ongoing Client Successes Expose Blatant Sectarian Religious Branding of POW/MIA Memorial Tables Within Federal Facilities

November 28, 2023

The Military Religious Freedom Foundation has once again been approached by group of patients at a VA Medical Facility regarding another blatant attempt to mark a memorial intended for U.S. Military prisoners-of-war and missing-in-action as the singular domain of particular religious adherents.  The latest un-constitutionally sectarian religious branding attempt was brought to MRFF’s attention in and email from one of our 12 clients in this particular matter on November 13, 2023:

From: (MRFF Client’s E-mail Address withheld)
Subject: Requesting assistance regarding missing man/fallen comrade table
Date: November 13, 2023 at 4:21:34 AM MST
To: Michael L Weinstein <[email protected]>, Mikey Weinstein <[email protected]>

Hello Mr Weinstein,

I am writing on behalf of at least 12 Veterans to request assistance from the Military Religious Freedom Foundation regarding a blatant violation of the First Amendment at VAMC Lexington (Troy Bowling Campus, 1101 Veterans Dr., Lexington, KY 40502-2235). The campus chooses to permanently exhibit a missing man/fallen comrade table which we all agree is a righteous and noble thing to do as a reminder of those who will never be returned, those who have passed, and as a symbol that ultimately we will all be the fallen comrade at some point.  To be clear, we have no objection whatsoever to permanently exhibiting a missing man/fallen comrade table.  However, we are all deeply troubled by the facility’s choice to include religious materials in the display that are specifically and purposefully non-inclusive of all Veterans.  Moreover, the recent choice to replace the Bible – which at least addresses the origins of the belief systems of the overwhelming majority of our group – with a text that clearly and unmistakably demonstrates preference for Christianity above all other belief systems is highly disturbing to those of us who have served the country to support and defend the Constitution, including the bill of rights and subsequent amendments.  

Some of the members of the group practice Islam and Judaism and the choice to permanently display a New Testament psalms and proverbs text published and provided by an organization purposefully dedicated to proselytizing sends a clear and unambiguous message that all Veterans are not welcome.  Given the guidance provided in these types of texts that tells practitioners of this particular faith to not even greet those who practice different beliefs, some members of our group have determined they no longer are willing to accept any treatment in the facility.  Others feel that if this organization is incapable of following the fundamental and foundational laws of the land, it is incapable of providing safe, timely, and adequate medical care.  This issue is going to put Veterans at risk for harm when they feel they can no longer come to a medical facility due to the blatant, egregious, and flagrant disregard for the mental and spiritual health of our country’s Veterans.

When we think about our buddies from our time in service that are not Christian’s, we are distraught knowing the organization founded and dedicated to our mental and physical well-being is purposefully choosing to do something that causes so many of us non-trivial pain and anguish.  

We all know what right looks like and those of us GWOT era Veterans saw what right looks like daily entering the DFACs, Chow Halls, and Mess Halls down range.  VAMC Lexington can easily do better and should know better.  The facility director served for over 20 years, according to his biography online, and must know better.  All we are asking is to display the table without any religious or anti-religious materials…the same way we saw these tables displayed daily at DFACs and Chow/Mess Halls over the past 20+ years.

Given the clear intent and message conveyed when displaying explicitly proselytizing materials, our group wanted to reach out to MRFF for assistance.  We all have significant concerns about possible reprisal for trying to resolve this issue directly, where word can easily be spread about those of us who either are not part of the club or not viewed as kindly by members of the same faith group for wanting to continue to uphold what we see as a lifelong duty, obligation, responsibility, and commitment to support and defend the Constitution.  We are counting on MRFF to keep our identity confidential to avoid the reprisal we feel is inevitable should our identity become known to staff at this and/or other facilities, in addition to the potential threats to our safety and well-being from other individuals in this country who have recently escalated the use of violence to target members of non-Christian faith groups.

Thank you for your assistance in advance
(MRFF Client’s name, phone number, address and all other ID information withheld)

In response to this request for assistance, MRFF Founder/President Mikey Weinstein immediately contacted the director of the Lexington, KY VAMC (Veterans Administration Medical Clinic) on November 14, 2023 expressing our clients’ concerns as well as providing extensive details regarding the historical practice of POW/MIA Memorial Tables and the applicable religious neutrality regulations within VA facilities.  In his email to Executive Director Russell Armstead, Mikey also demanded on behalf of MRFF clients that he “immediately remove the illicit, unconstitutional Christian proselytizing material (from the Gideons International organization) from the referenced POW/MIA ‘Missing Man Table’ display, which is under your personal control and direction.”

While reporting on this matter at the Daily Kos, MRFF Senior Research Director Chris Rodda succinctly described the resulting decision by the Lexington VA Health Care System’s Troy Bowling facility:

In what can best be described as an “I’m gonna take my marbles and go home” move, a VA medical center in Kentucky has removed the entire POW/MIA table display from its lobby rather than simply removing the Gideons “New Testament — Psalms and Proverbs” from the table, which was all that a group of twelve veterans wanted the facility to do….  Apparently, having a non-proselytizing display that honors all POWs and MIAs and not just the Christian ones was just too much for their Christian nationalist sensibilities to bear.

The MRFF client who originally emailed MRFF provided additional details in an email on the actions taken at the Lexington VAMC:

Hello and Happy Thanksgiving Mr Weinstein,

We are following up with you regarding a new development at VAMC Lexington’s Bowling Campus.  Some of us heard that the VAMC removed the entire missing man/fallen comrade table display and were able to verify that it is no longer displayed (see attached photos).  First and foremost, we thank you for continuing to support and defend the Constitution by securing this victory against government proselytization for and with us.  

That said, we are deeply disappointed in the lack of leadership at VAMC Lexington.  As we noted previously, and as you conveyed to Director Armstead, we wanted to stop the government from proselytizing, not to stop the government from honoring those who remain missing in action and those who have fallen.  It is too easy to remove material from a solemn memorial that suggests those who practice Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, non-faith traditions, other monotheist or polytheist beliefs, and even several forms of Christianity (e.g., Catholicism, Latter Day Saints, Christian Scientists, etc) are unacceptable members of the Veteran community who are undeserving and unworthy of remembrance.   The “leadership”, however, made their position clear.  They value proselytizing above and beyond all else, including honoring those who came before and those still yet to come.  

Director Armstead and his “leadership” team seem incapable of recognizing that every Service Member and Veteran, symbolically represented by the missing man/fallen comrade table, put on the uniform and swore an oath to support and defend the Constitution.  They fail to understand that the Oath of Enlistment (10 USC §502(a)) is not an oath for the duration of an enlistment contract, obligated period of service, or even a Service Member’s career.  We made a lifetime commitment when we raised our hands and solemnly swore (or affirmed) that we would support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic.  We believe that the Service Members and Veterans represented by that table would be proud to know that we and the Military Religious Freedom Foundation refused to allow the VAMC Lexington “leadership” to sully their honor and sacrifice by disrespecting and disregarding the Constitution we all swore a lifetime to protect and defend, even if it means the “leadership” chooses to honor them no longer.  

Again, Mr Weinstein, we are incredibly thankful for your and the Military Religious Freedom Foundation’s efforts to help us stop this egregious act of disrespect and dishonor by the leadership of this VAMC and achieve victory for the rights of all Veterans, Service Members, and civilians.  As our oath requires, we will remain vigilant to any additional efforts to defile, desecrate, or dishonor the memories and sacrifices of those who are gone, missing, or yet to come.  We will reach out to you immediately if it ever occurs, and again, we will be victorious in our defense of the Constitution.

Thank you again for all of your help and assistance.

While MRFF counts this action as an achievement in maintaining constitutionally mandated religious neutrality at VA facilities, Executive Director Armstead has been asked to honorably and appropriately amend his decision by a long-time MRFF supporter who is also extensively experienced with Chaplains serving within the U.S. Military and VA:

From: <name & email redacted> 
Sent: Sunday, November 26, 2023 11:29 AM
To: Russel Armstead; James Watts 
Cc: Tanya Bradsher
Subject: Please Reconsider
Importance: High

Dear Leadership at and for the Lexington VA,

I am an honorably-discharged former AD and Reserve Army chaplain.  I read with great interest, https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2023/11/24/2207823/-VA-medical-center-petulantly-removes-ENTIRE-missing-man-table-rather-than-remove-Bible-from-it.  I was stunned that you have removed a very meaningful display honoring POW/MIA service-members at the VAMC Lexington (Troy Bowling Campus) merely because conscientious veterans have asked that a New Testament not be displayed to serve as representing the faiths of all service-members.  As my late mother used to say, “That is cutting off your nose to spite your face.”  

I am also a DoD-approved ecclesiastical endorsing agent of chaplains serving mostly in the military, but also in numerous VA medical centers.  When my chaplains ask me for guidance about setting up POW/MIA tables, I encourage them to use quality bound BLANK books to represent the faiths or worldviews of all.  They can be found for under $11 at Amazon, for instance:  https://www.amazon.com/Obsidian-Journal-Diary-Antique-Notebook/dp/1441310584/ref=sr_1_47?crid=473WC69MLMW7&keywords=blank+books&qid=1701015044&sprefix=blank+books%2Caps%2C147&sr=8-47  .

Please reconsider.  Let that table be a meaningful remembrance for all.

Respectfully,

<name withheld>

In response to Chris Rodda’s reporting on the Lexington VAMC’s initial decision and the email that reporting generated  from a staunch MRFF supporter <see above>, the Lexington VAMC Executive Director Russell Armstead quickly made the honorable and extremely commendable decision to return the  POW/MIA Memorial Tables under updated guidelines.  These updated provisions were detailed in a letter to MRFF Founder/President Mikey Weinstein on November 28, 2023:

In consultation with the Office of General Counsel, Office of Resolution Management, Diversity, and Inclusion Southeast District Field Office, Chaplains Service and in accordance with VA Directive 0022-Religious Symbols in VA Facilities, Compliance Manual on Religious Discrimination, Religious Exercise in the Workplace, the New Testament Book has been removed from the table. We are standardizing the Missing Man Table displays across the Lexington Health Care System to ensure consistency and rendering of honor. All table displays within VA Lexington Health Care System will contain the following: small table, white tablecloth, single rose, vase, yellow ribbon, slice of lemon, salt, bread plate, glass, candle, empty chair, and a journal. [emphasis added]

On behalf of MRFF’s 12 veteran clients and everyone at MRFF, Chris Rodda subsequently reported in the Daily Kos:

MRFF commends Mr. Armstead for his decision to do the right thing and honor ALL veterans in the VA medical facilities under his control. It is much appreciated by the group of veterans represented by MRFF, as it will surely also be by many other veterans who receive care at the other facilities in the Lexington VA Health Care System!