Thread: Lawmaker Protests Expunging Of Word 'God' From Flag Certific

Lawmaker Protests Expunging Of Word 'God' From Flag Certificate

Oct 11, 2007 10:44 AM EDT

http://www.fox19.com

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) --
An Ohio lawmaker on Thursday demanded that Capitol officials change a policy that resulted in the word "God" being removed from a certificate accompanying a flag being sent to one of his constituents.

Republican Rep. Michael Turner of Dayton urged House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to review and reverse a rule followed by the Architect of the Capitol that bans the use of religious expressions on flag certificates.

That policy, Turner said in a letter to Pelosi signed by other Republicans, "puts at risk our religious freedoms and heritage."

Turner said the constituent, Paul Larochelle, and his son Andrew had requested a flag flown over the Capitol on Sept. 11 which Andrew, 17, was to give to his grandfather after being inducted into the Eagle Scouts. They asked that the certificate of authenticity accompanying the flag read: "this flag was flown in honor of Marcel Larochelle, my grandfather, for his dedication and love of God, country and family."

The Architect's office, citing its own rules, returned the certificate with the word "God" excised.

"The word 'God' is carved into the walls of both chambers of Congress," Turner said in a statement. "The Architect is the custodian of the Capitol and currently maintains several religious symbols in the building. If permitted, removing 'God' from the Capitol flag ceremonies will be the precedent for removing 'God' from the Capitol, and this cannot be permitted."

Under the flag program, begun in 1937, people may request through senators and House members one of the many flags raised and lowered over the Capitol every day. Currently, the Architect of the Capitol fulfills more than 100,000 flag requests from members every year. Kyle Anderson, spokesman for House Administration Committee chairman Robert Brady, D-Pa., said there was concern that members had received inconsistent responses over the years on the rules governing the contents of certificates.

He said the committee was being asked to come up with a solution allowing members to send constituents the messages they wished while still providing a certificate of authenticity from the Architect. The controversy over certificate wording has arisen several times in past years, with the Architect's office resolving that both religious and political messages should not be permitted, other House leadership aides said.

One proposed compromise was to put out a uniform certificate of authenticity while allowing members to add messages of their own choosing, but some lawmakers objected to that approach, the aides said.

(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

Leave it the way it has always been , this should not of been the decision of one stupid fool, and anyone who doesn't like the certificate can go buy there flag somewhere else!!! What a load of crap, Why do people feel like they have a right to change America!!! If you don't like our 300 + years of traditions get OUT!!!!

"this flag was flown in honor of Marcel Larochelle, my grandfather, for his dedication and love of God, country and family."

This wasn't some political certificate worded by a representative of the government, it was a message of love, appreciation, and respect from a grandson's heart to his grandfather. This is frelling ridiculous.

So now a child cannot even honor their grandparents without the government coming in and censoring it? This p*ss*s me off to the Nth, what a message to send this kid. (I say kid, but at 17 *shrug*)