Author Archive: Editor

As your Chaplain (and we have at least two others far better and more qualified for this job than I – Ed Gray and Dexter Miller),  I would like to very briefly confront our membership with a challenge that I believe is crucial to our country’s future and the education of today’s youth.  That challenge is how our courts and many of our fellow citizens have interpreted the First Amendment, commonly referred to as the ‘establishment clause’, to the US Constitution – “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.”  To many this means the freedom from religion not the freedom of religion as I strongly believe it is intended and so states.

I am a Christian and I strongly believe that my religious beliefs  play an essential role in my life.  As a Christian, I strongly believe I have a responsibility to practice my religion on a daily basis; I also believe that I have a responsibility to demonstrate and reflect the love of Christ for the benefit of others.  I do not, however, believe that I have the right to force on others my beliefs – nor do I believe that they have the right to force their beliefs on me, whether they are Jewish, Buddhists, Muslims, atheists, or agnostics.  I should be free to practice my religion in the manner I believe; as should others.  I believe this is what the First Amendment to our Constitution guarantees.

As VFW members, I believe we have a continuing responsibility to our Nation’s youth (and others), to serve as examples stressing what made and what continues to make this Country of ours great.  Our Country was founded by men who clearly understood the inherent and God Given Right of Freedom including Freedom of Religion and not Freedom from Religion.  The First Amendment to the US  Constitution guarantees the right to worship (or not worship) our God in the way each individual or group of individuals – a church – freely chooses.

This was received from a member of our Post and I as your Chaplain am just passing it on.  I do, however, suggest that there is much truth contained in this short ‘testimonial’.  As the saying goes, “So soon we forget” and Our War on Terror (and Terrorist I might add) certainly falls into that category.  Many within our Nation would claim that the War on Terror is over. But tell that to a family who recently lost a son or daughter.  Tell that to the families of those mentioned below.  Tell that to a mother, father, wife, son, or daughter whose child, husband, wife, father, son, or daughter has just deployed and into harm’s way.  Our liberty is not free and our brave men and women – Army, Navy, Marine, Air Force, and Coast Guard – are paying the price, daily, for the liberty and freedom we continue to enjoy in this great land of ours.  God Bless America and those who willingly defend Her.

Prayer Request

We are asking everyone to say a prayer for Darkhorse” 3^rd Battalion, 5th Marines, and their families. They are fighting it out in Afghanistan &have lost 9 marines in 4 days. IT WOULD BE NICE TO SEE the message spread if more could pass it on. Nothing in the media about these guys because no one seems to care: 

Rest in peace: Justin Allen, 23, Brett Linley, 29, Matthew Weikert, 29, Justus Bartett, 27, Dave Santos, 21, Chase Stanley, 21 Jesse Reed, 26, Matthew Johnson, 21, Zachary Fisher, 24, Brandon King, 23, Christopher Goeke, 23, Sheldon Tate, 27.

All are Marines that gave their lives for YOU this week.

Please Honor THEM by forwarding this.

Father Brian F. Kelly, Ph.D., Chaplain

Cathedral Catholic High School

San Diego, CA 92130

It makes no difference what our political views are. Whether we are a Democrat or a Republican, Right Wing or Left Wing, Liberal or Conservative, we are first and foremost Americans and these were ‘Our Native Sons’ and fellow comrades in arms.

“Heavenly Father, receive each into Thy Fold and comfort the bereaved.  Amen!”