A Christian and former fighter pilot sent in this message about an incident on Memorial Day 2009 that highlighted the inclusive environment of religion in the US military.  The US military goes to unimaginable lengths to ensure that its troops have the maximum access to their free exercise while attempting to adhere to government restrictions.

The military can, should, and does honor its members.  Part of that honor is the inclusion of religious expression when it does so.

I am a retired light-gray Eagle Driver, and before that Phantoms, and proud of it. I’m now working as a contractor [in] Afghanistan. [Just] before Memorial Day this year (2009) our Command lost two folks to an IED.

Both happened to be Jewish. Both happened to be very committed to living their faith. 

The Memorial Day ceremony doubled as a fallen comrade commemoration. Participants included the Protestant Command Chaplain, the Catholic Garrison Chaplain, two Jewish Chaplains who happened to be in Afghanistan on another mission, and a Muslim senior member of the Afghan National Army. Could not have been much more inclusive than that!

All I can say is that God was glorified, I believe, to see His children come together in such a way. The eulogies for our two fallen comrades were two of the most memorable and touching such stories I have ever heard. I praised God for the level of commitment that [they] demonstrated in their lives.

I was challenged as a Christian to respond to the grace of God in such tangible and positive ways as they lived the tenets of their faith. May God be blessed as their sacrifice is remembered by others who do not know Him.

I thank God too for permitting the free expression of ALL faiths in our military today. May we work with all our might to keep that freedom intact.