Tag Archives: national prayer luncheon

US Air Force Academy Hosts Annual Prayer Luncheon

Quietly and without controversy, the US Air Force Academy hosted its annual prayer luncheon last week.

The keynote address came from motivational speaker DJ “Eagle Bear” Vanas, a 1993 USAFA graduate and “enrolled member” of the Odawa Nation, a Native American tribe:

“Our spirituality makes us strong from the inside-out,” he said. “It strengthens and sustains us…

When we practice our spiritual faith, we make better decisions.”

The USAFA article references only Read more

Mikey Weinstein Claims Victory in Lawsuit

Michael “Mikey” Weinstein recently claimed victory in a lawsuit — which is no small thing for a man who has lost 5 of the past 5 lawsuits he’s filed over the past decade in his attacks on military religious freedom. The announcement, though, was subtle.

One of Weinstein’s favorite media advocates, local journalist Pam Zubeck, included a nearly irrelevant reference to Weinstein in an article about Fort Carson:

Mikey Weinstein leads the Military Religious Freedom Foundation, which won a settlement in a lawsuit against the Air Force Academy superintendent on behalf of a former employee.

Weinstein’s ego knows no bounds, so it is significant that this Read more

Faith in the Face of Tragedy: Sioux City, 1989

The Peterson AFB chapel recently hosted its annual National Prayer Luncheon to “honor [the] freedom” of religion guaranteed by the US Constitution.  Their guest speaker was Jerry Schemmel, a survivor of the crash of United Airlines Flight 232.  UA 232 is famous for its crash landing in Sioux City, Iowa, after it lost all hydraulics and the pilots (including a non-crew member pilot from the passenger deck) managed to “land” the crippled aircraft using only differential thrust.

While 184 passengers and crew survived, 112 were killed.  Schemmel was warned Read more

USAFA Defends National Prayer Luncheon

The Air Force Academy has filed affidavits in response to the MRFF lawsuit seeking to prevent the 10th Air Base Wing’s National Prayer Luncheon.  The event is scheduled for this Thursday, with USMC Lt (Ret) Clebe McClary as the key (but not only) speaker.

The Air Force Times indicates Chaplain (LtCol) Dwayne Peoples discussed the Chapel- (not command-) sponsorship of the event, and Col. Todd W. Robison, 10ABW Vice Commander, described the use of the government email announcing the event.  The paper notes LtCol Robert Kraus and Capt Jackson Grant also filed affidavits, though their content is not described.

General Gould Addresses McClary USAFA Prayer Luncheon

According to an Air Force Academy press release, General Michael Gould, USAFA Superintendent, had this to say about the upcoming National Prayer Luncheon:

[Gould] took on what he called “the big elephant” surrounding the Air Force Academy in the media in recent weeks: the National Prayer Luncheon, scheduled to be held at the Falcon Club Feb. 10. The event will feature retired Marine Lt. Clebe McClary as keynote speaker in addition to readings from followers of Buddhist, Jewish, Protestant, Catholic and Islamic faiths.

“Let me just set something straight: this is Read more

Weinstein Attacks USAFA Speaker: He’s ‘Wrong Kind of Christian’

Michael Weinstein has written a letter to the USAFA Superintendent, LtGen Michael Gould, “demanding” that an invitation to Lt Clebe McClary (USMC, Ret.) be rescinded.  Lt McClary — an internationally recognized motivational speaker and wounded Vietnam Veteran — has apparently been invited to speak at the 10 February National Prayer Luncheon for the 10th Air Base Wing, the wing that runs the facilities surrounding the Air Force Academy.

Weinstein’s reason?  McClary is the ‘wrong kind of Christian:’  Read more