Numerous stories give me the impression that the Army is more politically correct, more political generally, less military, and less competent than the Navy, the Air Force, and, especially, the Marines. [permalink: 04.06.27c.htm]An East Tennessee man who runs an organization that works to memorialize American soldiers and police officers is now battling the U.S. Army.
Bob Parker runs a non-profit organization called "Fallen Friend." Since 1996, Parker has sent special medallions to the survivors of soldiers and police officers killed in the line of duty.
On one side of the medallions is a picture of the Liberty Bell; on the other is a reference to a Bible verse.
"That is Jesus' word, John 15:13," says Parker. "The verse says 'No greater man has any love than than a man lay down his life for his friends'."
Although Parker has been working with all the branches of the U.S. military to send the medals to surviving family members, he recently received a letter from the Army informing him that because the medals contain a religious reference, the Army can no longer facilitate their distribution.
Parker appealed, but the Army denied him. Without the Army's cooperation, he can't distribute the medals because the Army had been providing him with the names and ranks of servicemen and women.
The Navy, Marines, and Air Force have continued to help Parker with distribution of the medals, but give individual families the choice as to whether they would like to receive one.
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