Vice President Dick Cheney blamed the “federal bureaucracy” Thursday for a “confusing order” to limit religious references by honor guards folding U.S. flags at military burials.
During a speech to the American Legion, Cheney assured veterans that the religious language can still be uttered at 125 national cemeteries operated by the Veterans Administration. A senior VA official told the cemetery directors last month not to allow such language at burials unless requested by next-of-kin.
“Burials conducted in those cemeteries should honor the wishes of the families, including those that relate to religious observances,” Cheney said, drawing enthusiastic applause at the Indiana War Memorial. “And despite the confusing order that recently came out of the federal bureaucracy, I want you to know that honor guards at military funerals will give the 13-fold recitation at any service where the family requests it.”
Honor guards who fold the flag at funerals routinely recite “The Meaning of Each Fold of an Honor Guard Funeral Flag.” With each fold, the guards make various references to God, country and patriotism.
At the 11th fold, when honoring Jewish soldiers, a guard says: “The eyes of aHebrew citizen represents the lower portion of the seal of King David and King Solomon and glorifies, in their eyes, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.”
That line prompted a complaint by someone who attended a burial at Riverside National Cemetery in California. Acting on the complaint, the VA ordered cemetery directors not to post or distribute the recitation or allow it to be used at burials unless requested by family members.
That prompted a backlash among House members, who condemned the policy in a resolution introduced Tuesday.
“The VA is being manipulated by out-of-control secularists,” said Rep. Ken Calvert, California Republican.
