I found the obituary of Daniel Martich on the Internet: [LINK]
Also see: Snopes
Apparently, the change is true.
– Sparta
MILITARY FUNERAL PROTOCOL – Funeral of Daniel “Dragan” Martich
Today I was incensed at the conclusion of a traditional Serbian-Orthodox funeral for my beloved 85 year old uncle, Daniel Martich, who proudly served in the US Army during The Korean Conflict.
During the committal service at a Pittsburgh cemetery, the local military detachment performed their ritual, then folded and presented the American Flag to my aunt. As I’m sure you have witnessed during military funerals, a soldier bends to one knee and recites a scripted message to a surviving relative that begins ‘On behalf of the President of the United States and a grateful nation, I wish to present you with this flag in appreciation for your husband’s service.’
However, today the dialogue was ‘On behalf of the Secretary of Defense and a grateful nation …’
After the service I approached the soldier who presented the flag to my aunt to inquire about the change in language. His response was “The White House notified all military funeral service detachments to immediately remove ‘the President’ and insert ‘the Secretary of Defense’. I couldn’t believe what I heard and the soldier smiled and said “You can draw your own conclusion sir but that was the order”. He, too, was ashamed of what he was required to say.
This president has taken off the gloves. My only response to this endless cesspool of Anti-American rhetoric dripping from his mouth is to borrow a phrase (with one minor change) uttered by another temporary Washington resident living in government housing: “Today for the first time in my adult life I was ASHAMED of my country”.
I did not serve in the military but my love of country parallels that of people like my late uncle who bled Red, White and Blue. As a second generation Serbian-American who’s heritage produced many patriotic military men and women who fought for freedom both in The United States as well as in the former Yugoslavia (most recently in Kosovo against the slaughter of Serbs by Muslim extremists). I implore you to make the American people aware of this little-known or, at least, publicly acknowledged fact.
May God Bless you and your family during these difficult times. Your voice of reason is a welcome change from the insanity plastered across the country by the liberal media. Keep up the great work and thank you for your service to our country.
Sincerely,
John G. Martich
Weirton, WV
{ 10 comments… read them below or add one }
This is a clarion call for pro-military elements to get out the vote ― or absentee ballot, as the case may be ― for all overseas soldiers and our armed forces in general, and thrust Obama from office in 2012.
The scorn, derision and disrespect that Obama has shown for America’s warriors is not just shameful, it should be actionable as dereliction of duty on the part of this nation’s supposed Commander in Chief.
At least I can sigh with overwhelming relief in the knowledge that I never, even once, ever considered voting for this Communist de facto Muslim.
You just brought up another problem – absentee ballots. States run by Democrats typically fail to make sure that US military personnel who are on active duty receive their ballots in a timely manner, so that the ballots can get back in time to be counted.
It’s disgraceful that US military personnel who are currently in harm’s way so often don’t even get to exercise their right to vote.
Yes indeed, get the word out, get out the vote ! Our service personnel should be held in the highest honor and esteem, but this usurper constantly shows them a lack of respect and out-right disrespect.
11-06-12 can`t get here soon enough !
1389: It’s disgraceful that US military personnel who are currently in harm’s way so often don’t even get to exercise their right to vote.
I’d use the word “criminal” but that’s just me.
This is a false rumor!! Please stop spreading lies. http://www.truthorfiction.com/rumors/m/military-protocols-funerals.htm
Settle down, everyone. This is not true. http://www.snopes.com/politics/military/funeral.asp
Snopes is known to have a very strong left-wing bias. But even Snopes admits that the story is partly true.
Something is wrong with the procedures, and it needs to be corrected.
“Partly true”? Did you actually read the snopes article?
According to the snopes article, if the soldier was a non-commissioned officer, according to regulations he is not permitted to speak for the President. He can speak for the Secretary of Defense. Simple as that.
The soldier may have left the email writer with the wrong impression or allowed the writer to jump to his own conclusions, but he was correct to say that the White House authorized this policy.
However, it was the Bush White House.
Still want to claim that snopes backs up this story?
Totally false, and Snopes explains why (as well as TruthorFiction, Factcheck, Urbanlegends, and even a military officers organization, MOAA)
The change came about is 2007 under Bush, ( but not by him – it comes from the DOD) but there never was a requirement that the President be mentioned – each branch has its own protocol.
Obama may be a douche, but for you guys to spread this sort of crap puts you in the same category
Watch your language, Enzo.
The bottom line is that the protocol has been changed, and it should not have been. It is the responsibility of the Commander-in-Chief to set up proper protocols for honoring fallen heroes, and both GWB and Obama have done nothing but squander American lives with not a thought to what it all means. Both of them have failed in that duty, Obama somewhat more so than GWB.
Suffice it to say that, for all of the US presidents who have been in office (I will not say “served”) after Ronald Reagan left office, my contempt and disgust knows no bounds. You really don’t want to get me started on this.