Wreaths Across America

From: (names withheld)
Subject: Wreaths Across America
Date: December 14, 2021 at 5:44:57 PM MST
To: [email protected]

Mr Weinstein 
I have never heard of a more pathetic organization as yours. At least Don Quixote was fighting windmills. Your organization is fighting thin air. I spent 24 years in the military and never felt that there was any need to defend anyone against anything religious in nature. 
I am the President of a sponsoring organization for Wreaths Across America, in a predominantly LDS community and we will be laying nearly 200 wreaths at Veteran graves and a Veteran Wall which includes the names of Veterans of all denominations or none at all. We will not receive a complaint from anyone in our community, because we believe that this gesture of purchasing and laying a wreath for a Veteran, dead or alive, constitutes an appreciation for the sacrifice that those men and women made on behalf of all Americans. We are a community that doesn’t think like you. We believe that those who served, are all brothers and sisters in arms and we don’t discriminate based on religious belief. 
That’s the beauty of our military, it does discriminate against all religions equally, because there is one mission, to fight tyranny around the globe and to preserve freedom and liberty in our nation. Sometimes that requires those of us who believe the Sabbath is sacred, to work on the Sabbath, to preserve the right to keep it holy, when possible, and allow others to do the same. People of all Faith’s are asked to set aside some of their tenants from time to time, to serve the team.
I appreciate my Muslim, Jewish, Buddhist and other brothers and sisters that fought alongside me, as much as I did the Atheist and Christian. So on Wreaths Across America Saturday, I have purchased wreaths to express that appreciation to all Veterans, regardless of religious affiliation. And NO ONE will complain, except you…and I suppose a handful of others who would rather slap hands, than grasp hands and work together for the greater good.
You obviously have no idea how Wreaths Across America operates. So I will educate you. Wreaths are purchased on the website by individuals or organizations that want to pay tribute to an individual Veteran or to honor all Veterans in a certain locale. NOBODY does it with the intent to “Christian Carpet Bomb”, as you call it. If you are so offended by a Christian wanting to pay tribute to a Jewish brother or sister, who served, then you have got other issues that would require the services of a psychiatrist. Or perhaps you have sold your birthright for the pottage of money that you fleece others out of, to build your cynical “wall between church and state”
I don’t begrudge anyone who wants to feel offense, where none was intended, but it seems a pretty, trivial way to spend your days on this earth that God has provided for our use. Christianity is not your enemy, it is your ally, to fight the actual government religious establishment of the Church of Global Climate Change, which is actually bringing harm to men and women of all faith’s. If you start an organization to combat that, I will gladly purchase one of your fictitious “bricks”.
But, until then, I wish you folly in your present endeavor, and pray that you see the light and follow it to a better cause.

(name withheld)

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Response from MRFF Board Member John Compere

On Dec 14, 2021, at 6:11 PM, John Compere wrote:

(name withheld),For your information, some families of deceased military veterans do not want a religious organization profiting, promoting their religion version & marketing itself by presumptuously putting its religious wreaths on the graves of their deceased loved ones without permission. Those families consider it uninvited & unwanted intrusions on the personal burial sites of their deceased family member.The Military Religious Freedom Foundation (composed of 85% Christians) represents, when requested, the religious freedom rights of those families to object & prevent what they sincerely believe to be thoughtless trespasses on the graves of their deceased military veterans. We do so because we respect the wishes of those families & the religious group responsible for the religious wreaths does not. Religious freedom is a shield of protection & never a sword of privilege. To become better informed, see militaryreligiousfreedom.org.

“He who knows only his side of the case knows little of that.” – Philosopher John Stuart Mill
Brigadier General John Compere, US Army (Retired)Disabled American Veteran (Vietnam Era)Board Member, Military Religious Freedom Foundation

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On Tuesday, December 14, 2021, 09:32:57 PM CST, (name withheld) wrote:

John
Like I said in my email to your organization, there is no religious intent by placing a wreath on someone’s grave or memorial.  It is simply a gesture of appreciation and acknowledgement of a Veteran’s sacrifice. For you or anyone to turn it into something religious is not what Wreaths Across America intended. It is a wreath!  If someone is so sensitive that they find offense in it, they can toss the wreath in the garbage. Wreaths Across America is neither a government entity or religious organization that threatens your sense of duty to protect the nation from its untoward ways.  The First Amendment to the Constitution is not threatened by a wreath placed by a private group or organization on a grave site.  It pertains to the “government” establishing a state religion.  You further indict yourself and your organization as frauds, by fighting a private entity like Wreaths Across America, in the name of protecting the First Amendment, because it proves that you don’t even understand the Constitution.I  am ashamed that a “Military” organization as you profess to be, would make the kind of fuss you have made about wreaths and have suggested that our Communist President denounce American citizen’s good will and private right to place a wreath to honor Veterans.
As I see it, you could use a little dose of religious understanding and appreciation for your fellow citizens, who simply want to recognize the service and sacrifice of Veterans.  

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Response from MRFF Board Member John Compere

On Dec 15, 2021, at 8:28 AM, John Compere wrote:
The religious wreaths in question are advertised & sold as “Christmas” wreaths for placement during “Christmas”. “Christmas” is Latin for “Christ’s mass” which is a Christian religious ceremonial. It is disingenuous to claim no religious connotation to “Christmas” wreaths.
The Department of Veteran Affairs official list of faith or beliefs groups approved for military grave emblems includes 79 different faith or belief groups. A partial resolution would be for those responsible to place “Christmas” wreaths only on military graves with Christian emblems. Moreover, it would show respect & consideration for those military families who do not want their military veterans’ graves decorated with “Christmas” wreaths. Unfortunately, such respect & consideration for those military families is not being presently shown.

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