Friday, July 10, 2009

Air Force Ends Four-Decade Tradition of Flyover at ‘God & Country’ Festival

Idaho Lt. Gov. Brad Little said Friday military officials made a mistake by denying a flyover at the annual God and Country Family Festival last week, breaking with tradition.

The Department of Defense cited a policy not to allow military flyovers at events with a religious theme when it didn’t allow planes to buzz the event in Nampa on July 1.

“This is political correctness run amok,” Little said in a statement.

The non-denominational event honors all branches of the armed forces and acknowledges their sacrifices for freedom, he said.

A Department of Defense policy adopted in November 2001 prohibits support for an event that “provides a selective benefit to any individual, group or organization, including any religious or sectarian organization.”

Pentagon officials said military flyovers were staged at the event in previous years because it focused more on the patriotism and avoided direct ties to Christianity.


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