Air Force Denies Request for Flyover at Christian Festival

[Hazcat]

An Idaho community had secured an Air Force flyover for its local festival every year for more than 40 years, organizers say, but this year, the Air Force turned the request down over the festival's religious focus.

The God and Country Family Festival in Nampa, Idaho, applied to the Pentagon for the flyover but was denied in an e-mail, board member Patti Syme told KTBV. Syme said the e-mail from a defense official informed her the Pentagon prohibited support of special interest groups.

"I called him immediately and just said, you know hey we've been doing this for 42 years, we've had flyovers, what is the problem?" Syme told KTBV. "And he said, well we have looked up your Web site and everything on your Web site seemed to focus on Christianity, ministry booths. And he said, in fact, ma'am it sounds like it focuses on Christianity. And he said, in fact, it would be great to go to, in fact, if I personally, could come I would, but we can't endorse such an endeavor, so they couldn't do the flyover."

A defense department official told FOX News the Air Force denied the request because it violates a Pentagon policy against supporting any event "that provides a selective benefit to any individual, group, or organization, including any religious or sectarian organization, ideological movement, political campaign or organization, or commercial enterprise, to include a shopping mall or motion picture promotion."

The Air Force was in charge of the decision-making process, meaning neither the secretary of defense nor President Obama weighed in directly, the official said.

And although the Air Force wouldn't dispute the festival board's claim of longtime military participation, the military doesn't keep records on this type of event, the official told FOX News.

Capt. Tom Wenz from Air Force public affairs told FOX News that past participation was due to the fact that the event was described only as a "patriotic tribute," and the Air Force wasn't aware until now of the apparent focus on Christianity, despite the festival's name.

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/07/07/pentagon-denies-god-country-family-fesitval-fly-request/?test=latestnews

This story makes me SOOOOO proud to be a vet!

[Pathfinder]

An Idaho community had secured an Air Force flyover for its local festival every year for more than 40 years, organizers say, but this year, the Air Force turned the request down over the festival's religious focus.

The God and Country Family Festival in Nampa, Idaho, applied to the Pentagon for the flyover but was denied in an e-mail, board member Patti Syme told KTBV. Syme said the e-mail from a defense official informed her the Pentagon prohibited support of special interest groups.

"I called him immediately and just said, you know hey we've been doing this for 42 years, we've had flyovers, what is the problem?" Syme told KTBV. "And he said, well we have looked up your Web site and everything on your Web site seemed to focus on Christianity, ministry booths. And he said, in fact, ma'am it sounds like it focuses on Christianity. And he said, in fact, it would be great to go to, in fact, if I personally, could come I would, but we can't endorse such an endeavor, so they couldn't do the flyover."

A defense department official told FOX News the Air Force denied the request because it violates a Pentagon policy against supporting any event "that provides a selective benefit to any individual, group, or organization, including any religious or sectarian organization, ideological movement, political campaign or organization, or commercial enterprise, to include a shopping mall or motion picture promotion."

The Air Force was in charge of the decision-making process, meaning neither the secretary of defense nor President Obama weighed in directly, the official said.

And although the Air Force wouldn't dispute the festival board's claim of longtime military participation, the military doesn't keep records on this type of event, the official told FOX News.

Capt. Tom Wenz from Air Force public affairs told FOX News that past participation was due to the fact that the event was described only as a "patriotic tribute," and the Air Force wasn't aware until now of the apparent focus on Christianity, despite the festival's name.

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/07/07/pentagon-denies-god-country-family-fesitval-fly-request/?test=latestnews

This story makes me SOOOOO proud to be a vet!

I had to squirm to let the giant cloud of smoke out that got blown up my ass with this Capt.'s comment.

[PegLeg45]

Yeah....somebody's pissin' down some backs and cryin' 'rain'.


This stinks.

[tt11758]

Welcome to the "New America World Order"

[twyacht]

Not big morale booster after such a history.

WTF is going on?  Somebody higher up is "leaning", what's next? They say a prayer at the Daytona 500, and have a flyover by the USAF.

Cut those too?

Your right Peg, this does stink...

[Sponsor]

[tombogan03884]

 What do you expect with an affirmative action post turtle in chief.

[Angie]

The only way they'll do a fly-over at a Christian function is if they're allowed to drop bombs!

[PegLeg45]

The only way they'll do a fly-over at a Christian function is if they're allowed to drop bombs!

Don't give 'em any ideas.

[Kid Shelleen]

I seem to remember an old ad that said: "Nothing can stop the U.S. Air Force."

Apparently it just takes a little prayer.

Politically correct Jacka$#es.