Patriotic Event's Flyover Called Off

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Patriotic event's flyover called off

Air Force cites event's 'religious connotation'

By Jeffry Scott, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, May 25, 2007

It's billed as the "Task Force Patriot Salute to The Troops."

But the U.S. Air Force —- which is part of the three-day extravaganza of fighter jet flybys, bands and Christian worship this weekend at Stone Mountain Park —- is in retreat.

After a group calling itself Americans United for Separation of Church and State sent a letter Wednesday to Air Force Secretary Michael Wynne and Acting Secretary of the Army Peter Green, protesting that the military involvement violates the U.S. Constitution, the Air Force on Thursday issued a statement saying it wasn't aware of the "religious connotation surrounding" the event.

"Upon learning of the schedule of events sponsored by Task Force Patriot," read a statement issued by the Air Force Press office, "Air Force officials began taking steps to avoid the appearance of any endorsement or preferential treatment of any religious faith or worship service."

The Air Force statement said that Air Force activities would "take place apart from those of Task Force Patriot," and flyovers by Air Force jets will not be scheduled to occur during religious services.

The Air Force has done flybys and participated in previous Memorial Day celebrations at the park, said the statement, because the park is open to the public, and "by our understanding, does not discriminate on the basis of religion."

Reports of aggressive evangelism at the Air Force Academy led the service to issue interim guidelines in 2005 urging commanders to be "sensitive" about sharing their faith and called for a minute of silence or at most a "brief, non-sectarian" prayer at mandatory gatherings.

Officials at Stone Mountain Park, and Task Force Patriot USA, which, according to its Web site is based in Lawrenceville, could not be reached for comment. Nor could a spokesperson be reached for WSB-TV, one of 11 co-hosts of the event, according to the Task Force Patriot Web site. WSB-TV is owned by Cox Enterprises, Inc., which also owns The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

In a statement, the Rev. Barry Lynn, executive director of the Washington-based Americans United for Separation of Church and State, said there are "legitimate ways to celebrate the Air Force's 60th anniversary and pay tribute to military personnel who bravely serve the nation" but the weekend show at Stone Mountain isn't one of them. "Instead, this event is a stunning display of the federal government using vast resources to trumpet a religious celebration," said Lynn.

The speakers at the event, as listed on the Task Force Patriot USA's Web site, include military officials such U.S. Air Force Major Brian "Jethro" Neal, a B-2 bomber pilot who holds the record for the longest aerial combat mission in a B-2 bomber, flying 44.5 hours from Missouri to Afghanistan.

"Your organization is clearly focused on the right target," says Neal in a statement posted on the group's Web site. "The work you are doing on behalf of the veterans of this great nation is both honorable and commendable. What better way to stay in the fight than to be serving along side other veterans in the army of the Lord."

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