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Salute to Our American Heroes this Memorial Day Weekend – Video

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This Memorial Day Weekend is a time to remember the fallen heroes throughout our nation’s history “who gave the last full measure of devotion” to their nation.
 
“As we honor their memory today, let us pledge that their lives, their sacrifices, their valor shall be justified and remembered for as long as God gives life to this nation.”  Ronald Reagan
Mere words cannot capture the enormity of their sacrifice or the anguish of loved ones they left behind. On this Memorial Day weekend remember and pray for our troops who are now in harm’s way. And pray for their families and loved ones as they endure the hardship and uncertainty of deployment.
I close this Memorial Day message with a favorite poem by Marine Chaplain Father Dennis Edward O’Brien, which pays tribute to our courageous soldiers for their service in protecting the fundamental liberties guaranteed by our Constitution:

Sincerely,

Richard Thompson
President and Chief Counsel of the Thomas More Law Center

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Our Nation’s Thanksgiving A Time to Thank Almighty God

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Our Nation’s first Thanksgiving Day took place on November 26, 1789.  It was a religious event.

To the chagrin of the anti-religionists among us today, on September 25, 1789, the first act of Congress after framing the Bill of Rights, which prohibited an establishment of religion, was to pass a resolution requesting that the President of the United States recommend to the people a “Day of Public Thanksgiving and Prayer.”  This Resolution is clear evidence that our Founding Fathers never imagined that the language of the Establishment Clause they had just adopted in the Bill of Rights would someday be interpreted by the Supreme Court as creating a “wall of separation between church and state” and used to ban God from the public square.

Washington enthusiastically agreed to the Resolution of both Houses of Congress.  In his Proclamation dated October 3, 1789, he began: “Whereas it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favour; …”

Nowadays, Thanksgiving in America is a joyful celebration; a day to spend with family and friends; a day to eat turkey; a day to watch football and Thanksgiving Day parades.  But at this time of great turmoil around the world, it is important that we reflect on the reasons for our Nation’s First Thanksgiving.  On this Thanksgiving Day, please, take time to thank God for the many blessings we enjoy in this amazing land of ours, and to think about, and implore God’s protection, over the men and women serving in our Armed Forces who stand the lonely guard, in rough and faraway places, so that we may enjoy this Thanksgiving Day far from the sounds of war.

Below is the first National Thanksgiving proclamation issued by President Washington. Please take a moment to read it. Click here to see the actual Proclamation.

Happy Thanksgiving from the staff of the Thomas More Law Center

Richard Thompson

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General Thanksgiving
By the PRESIDENT of the United States Of America
A PROCLAMATION – 1789
WHEREAS it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favour; and Whereas both Houses of Congress have, by their joint committee, requested me “to recommend to the people of the United States a DAY OF PUBLICK THANKSGIVING and PRAYER, to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness:”Thanksgiving_1.1NOW THEREFORE, I do recommend and assign THURSDAY, the TWENTY-SIXTH DAY of NOVEMBER next, to be devoted by the people of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being who is the beneficent author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be; that we may then all unite in rendering unto Him our sincere and humble thanks for His kind care and protection of the people of this country previous to their becoming a nation; for the signal and manifold mercies and the favorable interpositions of His providence in the course and conclusion of the late war; for the great degree of tranquility, union, and plenty which we have since enjoyed;– for the peaceable and rational manner in which we have been enable to establish Constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national one now lately instituted;– for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed, and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge;– and, in general, for all the great and various favours which He has been pleased to confer upon us.

washington_with_horse.1And also, that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech Him to pardon our national and other transgressions;– to enable us all, whether in publick or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually; to render our National Government a blessing to all the people by constantly being a Government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed; to protect and guide all sovereigns and nations (especially such as have shewn kindness unto us); and to bless them with good governments, peace, and concord; to promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the increase of science among them and us; and, generally to grant unto all mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as he alone knows to be best.

GIVEN under my hand, at the city of New-York, the third day of October, in the year of our Lord, one thousand seven hundred and eighty-nine.
(signed) G. Washington

Marine Corps Retains Iconic Marine Cover over the “Girly” Cap as the Universal Cap For Both Male and Female Marines

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To the relief of most, The Commandant of the Marine Corps has decided to retain the iconic male Marine dress and service cover for all Marines, male and female.  The decision to retain the male cover as the universal cap for all Marines was announced in a press release by the Marine Corps Public Affairs Office, dated November 15, 2013.  It was also reported in the Stars and Stripes, the only independent Department of Defense authorized news outlet.

Universal CoverIn October, the Marine Corps Uniform Board released a survey to active and reserve Marines discussing which option for a unisex cover they preferred: the current male cover or the “Dan Daley” cap which was dubbed by the press as “girly.”

Media reports of the survey led to a national public outcry over priorities and changes to the iconic Marine Corps uniform. Much of the concern was focused on reports that the switch to the “Dan Daley” (girly cap) cover would cost approximately $8 million dollars at a time when sequestration and budget cuts were causing serious threats to the ability of our military to field sufficient combat ready forces.

According to statements made by Army Chief of Staff, General Ray Odierno at the time the Marine Corps was considering spending $8 million dollars for a unisex cap, only two of the hoped for seven Army brigades were combat-ready.  General Odierno warned that thousands of soldiers might not be prepared for deployment.

According to the Marine Corps press release, 91% of survey respondents preferred the universal adoption of the male dress and service cover over the adoption of the Dan Daley cover.  Although the Marine Corps Uniform Board recommendation to use the current male cover as a universal cover has already been approved by Marine Corps Commandant, General James Amos, the press release indicated that more research needs to be conducted to improve the comfort and fit of the cover.