A retired Air Force master sergeant strong-armed out of another airman’s retirement ceremony in April because he began making a speech that referenced God is demanding a written apology from his former service and disciplinary action against the airmen who muscled him from the event.
Retired Master Sgt. Oscar Rodriguez also wants the Air Force to admit it was wrong and written assurance the Travis Air Force Base, California, air wing will not "commit assault or battery" against him in the future for engaging in the same conduct, according to the law firm representing Rodriguez.
"Should you fail to respond or deny our request for relief, we are prepared to pursue all available legal options," Mike Berry, senior counsel and director of military affairs for First Liberty Institute said in a demand letter to Air Force June 20.
Berry told Military.com on Tuesday that a lawsuit against the Air Force is an option. If that happens the suit would likely be filed in California or in Washington, D.C.
During the speech, which Rodriguez has reportedly given at a number of ceremonies in the area, the retired master sergeant references God a number of times.
SNIPThe Air Force adopted a flag folding script more than 10 years ago to remove religious references in speeches and the various claims made by speakers about the meaning of the flag folds.
In an official article published in 2005 the Air Force said there were many scripts being used, "but many … are religious in nature and also ascribe meaning to the individual folds."
"Our intent was to move away from giving meaning, or appearing to give meaning, to the folds of the flag and to just speak to the importance of the flag in U.S. Air Force history,"the Air Force’s office of protocol said at the time.
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Vid of the incident in question at the link...
[excerpted]http://www.military.com/daily-news/2016/06/21/retired-airman-may-sue-air-force-for-being-booted-from-ceremony.html?ESRC=airforce-a_160622.nlWeinstein crawls out from under his rock to support the actions of the individuals who perpetrated this outrage...
