MRFF Demand Letter to Fort Rucker in regards to “Crusaders” (E Co., 1-212th AVN)

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(Letter sent on Monday, November 23, 2015)

Major General Michael D. Lundy                           

Commanding General

U.S. Army Aviation Center of Excellence

Fort Rucker, Al 36362 

Major General Michael D. Lundy,

On behalf of a number of its active duty U.S. Army military member clients, civilian, Army/DoD contractor and veteran clients at Fort Rucker, Alabama, most of whom are Christians but some of whom are practitioners of the Muslim faith as well as other faiths and no faith, the Military Religious Freedom Foundation (MRFF) (https://www.militaryreligiousfreedom.org/) hereby officially demands that you immediately cease and desist from using both the blatantly unconstitutional Christian Crusader imagery and the actual name of “The Crusaders”, to represent the Echo Company (E Co.) of the 1st Battalion, 212th Aviation Regiment (1-212th AVN).

This shocking utilization by your command of this weaponized imagery representation of historic Christian sectarian warfare and brutality is just PLAIN WRONG both as a matter of law and as a practical matter. Further, MRFF has been advised that it is likely that this very same military unit, “The Crusaders”, under your command has in the past, currently does and will continue to train foreign allied military personnel from a number of other nations, including among them possibly predominantly Muslim countries. Using the name “Crusaders” for the E Co. of the 1-212th AVN with the imagery described in this demand letter (see attachments above) only exacerbates the outrage of this sordid matter.

Sir, did you not hear about almost an identical situation (http://www.military.com/daily-news/2015/11/17/crusader-knight-sign-taken-down-at-hawaii-army-base.html), merely one week ago at Fort Shafter, Hawaii, being corrected in only 8 hours after MRFF’s demand by one of your fellow Army Generals, Major General Edward Dorman, Commander of the 8th Theater Sustainment Command?

Major General Lundy, as a matter of law, this current outrage from the 1-212th AVN directly violates, inter alia, the No Establishment Clause of the First Amendment of the United States Constitution. It also establishes a de facto “religious test” which is, likewise, violative of the “No Religious Test” mandate of Clause 3, Article VI of our Constitution.

As a practical matter, General Lundy, the thoughtless and careless usage of this noxious Crusader imagery does three incredibly horrible things, which are massively deleterious to America’s War on Terror. Indeed, all three of these enormous detriments ought to have been intuitively obvious to you, sir, and/or your Command Staff.

1) Your use of the Crusader imagery enrages our Islamic allies.

2) Your use of the Crusader imagery emboldens our Islamic enemies and provides a propaganda bonanza bounty of boundless proportions.

3) Your use of the Crusader imagery eviscerates our own U.S. military troops’ good order, morale, discipline, unit cohesion, military readiness, mission accomplishment, heath and safety.

I should not have to further explain or detail the terrible wrongfulness of the 1-212th AVN’s actions here, sir. That unit’s astonishing official logo, with an actual Army helicopter superimposed over the red Christian Crusader cross, speaks for itself. This disgrace is now YOUR responsibility. Almost 6 years ago to this day, the following article was published which may assist you in putting into an even better context and perspective how universally dangerous and hurtful your Command’s usage of that Crusader name and imagery is: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/chris-rodda/top-ten-ways-to-convince_b_291308.html

Major General Lundy, please confirm with MRFF immediately that you will no longer use the unconstitutional image of the Army helicopter superimposed over the large red Crusader crucifix/cross sporting the words “Crusaders” to represent the U.S. Army’s Echo Company, 1st Battalion, 212th Aviation Regiment. Please ensure that this subordinate unit of yours at the Army’s “Aviation Center Fort Rucker” no longer goes by the incredibly offensive and unconstitutional official name of “The Crusaders”. Further, please initiate an aggressive investigation and insure visible and appropriate punishment for any and all individuals (including yourself) who are either directly or indirectly responsible for this unconstitutional injustice.

Standing by,

Michael L. “Mikey” Weinstein, Esq.

Founder and President

Military Religious Freedom Foundation

CC:

Ash Carter

Secretary of Defense

1000 Defense Pentagon

Washington, DC 20301-1000

General Joseph F. Dunford, Jr.

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

9999 Joint Staff Pentagon 

Washington, D.C. 20318-9999

Eric Fanning

Acting Secretary of the Army

101 Army Pentagon

Washington, DC 20310-0101

General Mark A. Milley

Chief of Staff of the Army

1400 Defense Pentagon

Washington DC 20301-1400