THE WORDS “GOD” AND “HEAVEN” ARE NO LONGER TABOO AT THE VETERAN’S MONUMENT!

            On 2/23/10 the Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to allow the Soike family to include God and Heaven in the poem to be inscribed on their family bench.  The letter VFW 2680 submitted in support of the family’s request may have played an important part in the outcome.  I attended the Board meeting and submitted the following testimony:

1)     We may someday wish to place a plaque with the Pledge of Allegiance at the base of the American flag which would include the word God.

2)     The Soike family engraving contains no religious symbols, quotes, etc., and does not endorse any specific religion and therefore should meet the test with regard to any perceived court cases.

3)     I was at the meeting on 2/18/10 and our Veteran’s organizations should always have a voice with regard to any and all future inscriptions at the monument. 

4)     Although there are many religious organizations represented at this meeting, this is not a religious monument; it is a monument to our Veterans.  The Veteran’s organizations have no problem with the use of the word God, as long as it is used in a respectful manner.

            These statements were entered into the record so that those who fear that the “Freedom of Speech Door” is open, can find comfort in the fact that Veterans will continue to approve all future inscriptions, and fight against any derogatory requests. 

Sincerely,

Larry E. Zumwalt

Commander VFW 2680

Update and retraction of the County Counsel information contained in the letter to the family of Tom Soike

            On 2/18/10 the VSO Ed Swanson and the Veteran’s Dept Director Bill Schultz called for a meeting of Commanders pursuant documents prepared by the CAO with regard to inscriptions at the Veteran’s Memorial.  VFW 2680, VFW 10165, VFW 9241, Marine Corp League and Fleet Reserve were present and voted unanimously to approve the Soike family request to include the words “God” and “Heaven” on their bench.  Bill Schultz will refer our decision to the Board of Supervisors on 2/23/10.  The Board of Supervisors will have the final say on this issue.

            County Counsel Louis Green, Supervisor Ray Nutting and Friends of the Monument Rich Buchanan provided informative presentations with regard to the issue.  I apologized to County Counsel for saying that they lacked the fortitude to stand up to the ACLU and self-proclaimed atheists like Michael Newdow after hearing Louis Green’s presentation.  I questioned Mr. Green and he assured the panel that to his knowledge no one from his office refused the Soike family the right to use the words “God” and “Heaven” on their bench.  The issue that concerned County Counsel involved future free speech issues if this inscription opens the door to public forums as opposed to a limited or non-public forum.

            While there are many religious groups that may be showing up at the Board meeting, and hopefully the Board will find in favor of our decision, I still think it may be wise to point out that this monument is for Veterans and it is not a monument to God.  In my opinion, Veteran’s organizations should always have a say in what gets inscribed at the monument and will not allow any words to be inscribed (to include “God” and “Heaven”) unless there is proper respect shown.

Sincerely,

Larry Zumwalt,

Commander 2680

2/14/10

To the family of Tom Soike

Re:  Soike Family Bench Engraving Request

Board of Supervisors Meeting 2/23/10, 9:30am

            Post 2680 Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States of America supports your engraving request at the El Dorado County Veteran’s Memorial.  We give our sincere wishes that the Board of Supervisors will approve your request.  We are still “one nation under God,” and we are not afraid to say so.

            County Counsel lacks the fortitude to stand up to the kinds of frivolous law suits filed by the ACLU and self-proclaimed atheists like Michael Newdow.  The advice of County Counsel to make the words “God” and “Heaven” a legal taboo is no doubt based upon intentions to save a cash-strapped County budget the monetary pain of defending against these types of law suits.  It should be mentioned that Mr. Newdow has not won any of his legal suits to take God out of the Pledge of Allegiance nor off of our legal currency.

            We have reviewed your proposed engraving request and find that it contains no religious symbols, quotations or prayers and it does not endorse or support any one certain religion.  There are many scholars who do not buy the division of church and state arguments based upon the lack of any such division when our Constitution was written and the intent thereof. 

            With regard to “God” and other religious inscriptions on our government’s properties, I would suggest that you, the Board of Supervisors, County Counsel and the Friends of the Monument read “Rediscovering God in America” by Newt Gingrich.  It will open your eyes as to how big of a role God plays at our highest offices and monuments.  This includes religious quotes from the Bible, religious paintings, the Ten Commandments, mentions of God and yes, even Heaven.  I will name only three:

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            Atop the Washington Monument capstone will be found the words “Laus Deo” (Praise be to God) to be seen only from the heavens above.  On the tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery you will find engraved “Here Rests In Honored Glory An American Soldier Known But To God”.  On the White House fireplace mantle you will find “I pray to [heaven] to bestow the best of blessings on this house and all that hereafter inhabit it.  May none but honest and wise men ever rule under this roof” President John Adams.

            If the purpose of our Memorial is to honor our Veterans, it would be shameful if we deny two of our former (deceased) members of The Veteran’s of Foreign Wars who served in Korea, Vietnam and in World War II at the Battle of the Bulge their bench. 

            The Soike family should be refunded $3,500 if they are denied their engraving request.  None of the other benches, plaques, bricks, etc. appears to include the words “God” and “Heaven.”  If the Board of Supervisors lacks the fortitude to stand up for what is right, I would offer the following compromise if we must live in fear of saying the words “God” and “Heaven”:  

            “I’ve tasted freedom and fought through the pain of these wars and wondered if somehow the something I’ve given could somehow have been something more”  

            You can try to take God out of our Pledge of Allegiance and off of our legal currency but you can’t take God out of our Military.  Every enlistee must take an oath under US Code Title 10 Section 5(a)  which includes the words “So Help Me God”.  All of our Armed Services Troops must follow Article VI of the US Military Code of Conduct which states: “I will never forget that I am an American, fighting for freedom, responsible for my actions, and dedicated to the principals which made my country free.  I will trust in my God and in the United States of America.” 

Sincerely,

Larry E. Zumwalt, Commander VFW Post 2680

(530) 644-1186

Cc: Rich Buchanan, Friends of the Monument

Cc: Ray Nutting, District II, Board of Supervisors

Cc: Bill Schultz & Ed Swanson, Veterans Services Dept.

Cc: Robert Primicerio, VFW 2680 Website Newsletter