Appreciation Letter From Senior DoD Civilian

From: (Senior DoD Civilian/MRFF Client’s e-mail address withheld)
Subject: Appreciation Letter From Senior DoD Civilian
Date: September 19, 2024 at 8:14:45 AM MDT
To: Mikey Weinstein <[email protected]>

Dear Mikey and staff of the MRFF,

I wanted to send a note of appreciation for all you do, everyday and sometimes against all odds fighting for servicemembers, DoD civilians and their families to ensure they have the freedom to practice their religious beliefs (or not to practice religion at all) and to keep the wall of separation between church and state within the military standing strong.

As a senior civilian in DoD with close to 35 years of service and having served across the breadth and depth of the Department, I’ve seen firsthand how much more culturally and religiously diverse our military has become in just one generation. But I also understand how divisive this has become and how that divisiveness undermines the very things that make us the greatest fighting force in the world – morale, good order and discipline, unit cohesion and readiness.

I’ve followed and supported your organization for close to 15 years now and know there is no shortage of individuals and organizations that willingly, knowingly, flagrantly violate both DoD and individual service policies intended to prevent the privileging of one religion (almost exclusively fundamentalist Christian Nationalism) over another or undue influence from leaders, chaplains and fellow servicemembers as it relates to religion.  Sadly, the Department does not do enough to enforce them.  As you well know, history is littered with examples of leaders, often in very senior positions who break the rules and get away with it.  With all that’s at stake, if the military is unwilling to hold them accountable, someone must! 

So Mikey, I am so grateful to you and the foundation for filling that void and holding people accountable for doing the right thing.  I also appreciate the swiftness and effectiveness with which you address issues as they arise.  You continue to get up and do it every day even though I’m sure it feels at times as though your efforts are futile.  You do it even in the face of persistent and often very serious threats made to you personally, the foundation and your family.  In my many years of working for the military, I’ve served alongside Soldiers, Airmen, Seamen, and Marines who demonstrated passion for their work, fearless determination, and unwavering dedication to mission, and even though you no longer wear the uniform Mikey, you are among the best of them.

I also want to thank you for the handful of times I have reached out to you to report problems in the places I’ve worked over the years.  You’ve always addressed the situation immediately, keep the strictest of confidences and you’ve kept me informed of how the issues were being addressed every step of the way. 

Thank you so much for your willingness to defend for the military, the freedoms that all American citizens enjoy under the First Amendment.  Our strength, our readiness and our ability to fight and win our Nation’s wars depends on it!  

(Senior DoD Civilian/MRFF Client’s name, rank, title, military branch, and DoD office symbol all withheld)