Christmas Wreaths
From: (name withheld)
Subject: Christmas Wreaths
Date: December 14, 2021 at 11:43:15 AM MST
To: “[email protected]” <[email protected]>
Dear Mikey,
There are so many important things to be working on in today’s world, yet you are alarmed that Christmas wreaths have been placed on the graves of veterans? I don’t know that there’s much that you and I will agree on, but I am willing to bet that we can agree that there are far more important things that will have great impact on the future and the security of this nation that you and I and all Americans should be working to address. I know you won’t appreciate it now, yet I have said a prayer for you, and as part of that prayer I have asked that God will someday help you to appreciate and be thankful that that prayer was said.
Sincerely,
(name withheld)
From: (name withheld)
Subject: Wreaths
Date: December 14, 2021 at 5:42:10 PM MST
To: [email protected]
No one has given you “consent” to speak for the rest of us. The Wreaths Across America effort is a beautiful tribute to our service members, including my family members. Please don’t presume to push your anti-Christian views on the rest of us. The only thing “Christian” about placing Christmas wreaths on service members’ graves is the expression of love and compassion that it takes to give that gift to the nation.
What a sad scrooge you are.
(name withheld)
Response from MRFF Advisory Board Member Martin France
On Dec 14, 2021, at 8:51 PM, Martin France wrote:
(name withheld), it’s not your job to decide for others what causes are worthy of contesting. Nor are your prayers something others need or necessarily want. Maybe a response I wrote earlier this evening to another “admirer” will better explain the situation to you (see below). Let me know if you have any questions.
Sincerely,MartyUSAFA 1981
Dear (name withheld),No one GAVE Wreaths Across America and their volunteers the RIGHT to presume that every dead service member and their survivors want a Christian symbol on their graves. If Christmas is a Christian holiday, then how can a “Christmas wreath” (your own words) NOT be a Christian symbol. We are not pushing our anti-Christian beliefs on anyone because we don’t have “anti-Christian beliefs.” We believe in the Constitution and the Establishment Clause. We BELIEVE that the anti-American and anti-Constitutional action here is on the part of WAA and its volunteers that are PUSHING their Christian beliefs on the graves of those who can do nothing to stop them.We do not doubt that some are blindly doing this out of love and a sense of goodwill. And, if the survivors of those buried in these cemeteries agreed to have their loved-ones’ graves decorated with a Christmas Wreath, then we wouldn’t be involved in this. We’d let it happen and endorse the accountability it would reflect.But, we cannot stand idly by when a group just decides for themselves that EVERY grave in the cemetery needs a Christian symbol on their grave for a CHRISTIAN holiday–when not all of those buried there are Christians or even religious.Think of some symbol with which you or one of your loved ones might not like associated with them, but is still a symbol held in some level of respect or honor by others. Could be a confederate flag, a rainbow flag, a green Muslim flag or Star of David, a wiccan black hat, a Klan-adorned or labeled cross, a Buddhist string of flags, or a Swastika. Every one of these symbols have their supporters–like it or not. And every one of these have been used at some time to adorn a grave in order to honor the person buried there.Now, ask yourself this: If a group adorned EVERY grave in a cemetery that includes members of my family with this symbol out of a sense honor and goodwill, would you be okay with that? If your dad was straight, but his grave had a rainbow flag? If your best friend was Jewish, but a Klan cross was put on their grave, or if your Black friend’s son’s grave was adorned with the “Stars and Bars.” How would you feel? Wreaths may make for a pretty photo, but I think rainbow flags would, too. Don’t you?All that we ask is that the wreath-layers ASK and not ASSUME. We are not all Christians. We do not all celebrate Christmas. We don’t ALL want strangers to decorate the graves of our family members because we see that as a personal, family decision.What a presumptuous bigot you are.
Sincerely,Marty France, PhDBrigadier General, USAF (Retired)MRFF Advisory Board Member
On Wed, Dec 15, 2021 at 7:20 AM (name withheld) wrote:
Dear Marty,
I understand that you, Mikey, and others there most likely do not want my prayers or prayers from anyone else. As you may know, St. Paul was once the same way. I still will pray for you and Mikey in loving hope that someday you and he will come to be grateful for such prayers and that your hearts that have become so hardened will be opened to the inner peace, hope and joy that true love and charity brings.
(name withheld)
Response from MRFF Advisory Board Member Martin France
On Dec 15, 2021, at 7:26 AM, Martin France wrote:
(name withheld), I’d much rather you didn’t waste your time and, instead, did something that might actually have an impact on the world around us–donate to a local Veterans’ support organization in our name. I’m not a big fan of prayer. It sure didn’t help the people of Mayfield KY and hasn’t stopped 800K+ from dying of CoVID. It might make you feel good–and you’re welcome to believe in whatever fairy tales keep you happy–but it doesn’t do shit for anyone else. Have a Superb Solstice! Marty