Why?

From: (name withheld)
Subject: Why?
Date: December 14, 2021 at 3:26:10 PM MST
To: [email protected]

I just finished watching your video on Foxnews.com and I need to ask…. why? Why of all things that veterans are tolling with daily, would you exhaust your time, efforts, and energy on something of this level?  While many veterans are fighting for their compensation from campaigns, educational benefits, testifying before congress, seeking mental wellness, experiencing financial difficulties, homelessness, and much MUCH MORE…you’re worried about wreaths?
When was the last time you or your organization conducted a needs assessment or sent out surveys to ALL veterans to determine the greatest needs? When was the last time you analyzed data to determine the latest trends with veterans? How recently have you aligned your priorities with the modern day veterans and their needs?  How reliable is your Comprehensive Needs assessment that would direct you to exhaust your time & energy on wreaths? Do you have some sort of validation template or criteria that leads  your decision making processes?  From the Fox news video it appears someone had a shower thought or a visit from the good idea fairy and all of sudden decided to act on it. 
As stated earlier, there are FAR MORE GREATER NEEDS that veterans need support in and your organization has no formal system in place in determine such needs. 

Very Respectfully, 

(name withheld)

Response from MRFF Advisory Board Member Martin France

On Dec 15, 2021 7:23 AM, Martin France wrote:, the MRFF is not the Veterans’ Administration.  We serve veterans and all active duty members with respect to their religious rights.  That’s a fairly narrow, but important role.  While we strongly support efforts by other organizations to address the issues you mention, that’s just not our job.  We can’t do it all and don’t profess to.  How about you?   It is also not your job to tell us what should most concern us or what aspect of a veteran’s or active duty service member’s plight we should aim to alleviate.You asked “Do you have some sort of validation template or criteria that leads  your decision making processes?:  In fact we do.  Here’s how it went:
We took up the wreath issue because VETERANS and ACTIVE DUTY MEMBERS who were offended by the actions of WAA CONTACTED US with their concerns.  Many non-Christians and the survivors of non-Christian service members objected to the idea of having some strangers place Christian symbols on the graves of their loved ones whom they KNEW were not Crhistian and/or did not request such decoration. We investigated and agreed that it was inappropriate to decorate (or desecrate, depending upon your perspective) the graves of veterans without first contacting their survivors to see if such decoration was desired at all.  We do not aim to stop the decoration of graves where surviving family and friends feel it is appropriate.  But, we object to the unfettered and seemingly random placement of christian symbols on the graves of ALL veterans regardless of the sponsoring groups’ intent.
Maybe it would help if I attached another email and response I wrote yesterday.  If, after reading all of this, you have more questions, please feel free to write back.  Cheers, Marty (MRFF ADvisory Board)

Martin France <[email protected]>Tue, Dec 14, 6:08 PM (13 hours ago)to Mikey,  (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 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.

Martin France Tue, Dec 14, 6:08 PM (13 hours ago) 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