Chaplain (LtCol) Dennis Saucier is the senior staff Chaplain of the Air Force Mortuary Affairs at Dover Air Force Base — where all the fallen American military heroes return. An article from a Church of Christ news site notes the role of the Chaplains in their return.
The Dignified Transfer is a key focus of Saucier’s work. Chaplains offer prayers during the ceremony, thanking God Read more
The past week had seen a stir over the decision not to invite clergy to the remembrance ceremony marking the 10th year since the terrorist attacks of 11 September 2001. While some decried it as secularism run amok, it seems the most influential of the persons invited to the podium at the event still managed to make spiritual statements.
President Barack Obama read from Psalm 46, though Read more
In one of the many reports on the 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States, the Washington Post recounts the story of two F-16 pilots from the 121st Fighter Squadron of the Washington, DC, Air National Guard, who were some of the first to respond to the attack. As also reported at MSNBC.com,
the F-16 jets they were rushing to get airborne were largely Read more
What is reportedly NASA’s first “lunar Bible” is being auctioned in a “Space and Aviation Artifacts” event this month.
The tiny object, an intact microfilm of the King James Bible containing all 1,245 pages and measuring 1.5 x 1.5 inches, will be included in the auction by PR Auction on the company’s website beginning Sept. 15.
The miniscule Bible was reportedly a product of the Apollo Prayer League — a group of NASA employees from all fields — and it was created to fulfill Read more
Soldiers, leaders, and Chaplains from two Army units met for a Sunday morning prayer brunch in Iraq
to celebrate the completion of…transferring operations…and to ask for God’s blessing in the journeys ahead for each unit.
The brunch also served as a reminder of the “comprehensive fitness” the Army considers essential, even before a crisis. Chaplain (Maj) Brian Seidel said
The spiritual component of [a Soldier’s] total fitness is often undervalued till crisis. Sometimes we don’t appreciate the significance of spiritual fitness till we desperately need it. But we need it for all of life, the good and the bad.
US Navy Lt Haji “Omar” Shareef, a helicopter pilot, was interviewed recently on his ability to adhere to the religious tenets of Ramadan while being a military pilot. (Video below the fold.)
While he says Muslims can largely do their duties, he notes they do ask for accommodations such as not doing physical training during the day, since they cannot drink water between sunrise and sunset.
On his part, as a pilot, he “puts himself on Read more
The International Security Assistance Force, led by US Army Gen. John R. Allen and Ambassador Simon Gass, hosted an Islamic iftar in Afghanistan, the meal that breaks the daily fast of Ramadan. Afghan leaders were thankful:
Defense Minister of Afghanistan Gen. Abdul Rahim Wardak [said] “This is actually a demonstration of the upmost respect for our beliefs, our faith, our traditions and our culture…”
As noted in a US Army article, Islamic US Army Soldiers at Bagram Air Field, Afghanistan, are observing Ramadan with others of their faith.
As Soldiers engaged in war, the Islamic faith technically exempts them from fasting during Ramadan, but at least one Soldier has chosen to Read more
USAFA has its “Falcon Circle,” and just down the street Fort Carson has its unique religious “chapel” as well.
As previously noted, the Turkey Creek ranch US Army facility of Fort Carson has been used for some years to support the religious freedom of men and women in the US military of all kinds. The kind of worship? A native American sweat lodge.
Michael Hackwith is the local spiritual leader and leads the group in Read more