A retired military sergeant is suing the Air Force after he was removed mid-way through his speech at a ceremony two years ago. Senior Master Sgt. Oscar Rodriguez claims he was pulled out because he mentioned God.
Rodriguez was invited to speak at a retirement ceremony in April 2016 for Master Sgt. Chuck Roberson. He apparently delivered an unauthorized speech during the flag folding ceremony but Travis Air Force Base servicemen pulled him away after he mentioned God.
The ceremony to honor the flag followed a script that underwent revisions in 2006 that did not mention religion. Rodriguez, however, stuck with the original version that contained a reference to God.
"Let us pray that God will reflect with admiration the willingness of one nation in her attempts to rid the world of tyranny, oppression and misery," Rodriguez said. "It is this one nation under God that we call with honor the United States of America. God bless our flag. God bless our troops. God bless America."
A video of what happened appeared online in June 2016. The veteran lodged his lawsuit Monday, or nearly two years after the incident.
Rodriguez told Fox News that he's fighting for his constitutional right to use the old version of the ceremony. He would also like to receive an apology from the Air Force and implied that he was not advised on what was forbidden prior to his speech.
The Air Force answered in a statement that the ceremony's squadron commander did not approve Rodriquez's participation in the flag folding ceremony hence he was pulled away. The Air Force understood that Roberson informed Rodriguez of this fact but the veteran still went against protocol.
Roberson supports his friend in this lawsuit and he also wants the Air Force to apologize to Rodriguez. He confirmed to Fox News that he personally requested Rodriguez to recite the script, which he wanted to reflect his "respect for God, family, and country."
