WASHINGTON, DC – Bishop Council Nedd, national chairman of the advocacy group In God We Trust, today announced that he is launching a national petition campaign aimed at overturning the National Cemetery Administration’s recent ban on a flag folding tradition that mentions God.

            In response to a single complaint, the National Cemetery Administration banned the tradition of honor guards reciting a short explanation of the meaning of each of the thirteen folds of the American flag that is then presented to the family of the deceased veteran.  The single complaint was lodged against the volunteer honor detail at Riverside National Cemetery in California.  The National Cemetery Administration subsequently imposed the ban on all 125 national cemeteries on September 27.  The ban was not announced publicly.

            “This is yet another outrage against America’s citizens by bureaucrats who care more about appeasing a tiny minority of politically correct troublemakers than in honoring our veterans,” says Nedd.  “Our veterans and their families have the right to request that this solemn ceremony be performed at funerals.  They do not have to have it performed if they do not want it.  However, God should not be banned at our national cemeteries.”

            The national petition campaign will include an online petition, online advertising and direct appeals to In God We Trust’s 50,000 supporters nation-wide.

            “This radical edict must not stand.  What is next? Is the National Cemetery Administration going to ban members of the clergy from mentioning God at funerals for our nation’s heroes?”  Nedd asks.  “That seems to be the next logical step.  If these volunteer details are prohibited from mentioning God, what is to stop the bureaucrats from subjecting members of the clergy who serve in the armed forces to this gag-order?”