CHAPLAIN ALLIANCE FOR RELIGIOUS LIBERTY March 26, 2014 – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact CHAPLAIN ENDORSERS at info@chaplainalliance.org or call (571) 293-2427

Message to Air Force Academy cadets: You can say, ‘So help me God’

Colorado Springs, Colo. — Chaplain Alliance for Religious Liberty has joined with other members of the Restore Military Religious Freedom coalition to provide a message via billboard to Air Force Academy cadets regarding their freedom to use the phrase “So help me God.”

The billboard went up this week not far from one of the entrances to the academy.

“The message is clear, our Founding Fathers said ‘So help me God’ on taking their oath of office; Air Force cadets have that same freedom,” said Chaplain (COL) Ron Crews, USAR Retired, executive director of the Chaplain Alliance for Religious Liberty. “Our billboard is a reminder that cadets can say the phrase, which is deeply rooted in American tradition.”

Last fall cadets received new handbooks that had removed the phrase “So help me God” from the cadet oath of office. After members of Congress intervened, the superintendent of the academy said that the omission was a printing error and that cadets have the option to say the words.

“‘So help me God’ is a solemn reminder that cadets are pledging their fidelity both to their country and to someone higher than themselves,” said Crews. “The presidents Americans admire all solemnly uttered these words when they took their oaths of office. Our Air Force cadets should be encouraged to follow their example.”

Chaplain Alliance for Religious Liberty is an organization of chaplain endorsers, the faith groups that provide chaplains for the U.S. military and other agencies needing chaplains. The endorsers in Chaplain Alliance speak for more than 2,600 chaplains serving the Armed Forces.

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