'Devout Christian' and Air Force veteran is suing to have bible removed from display at New Hampshire VA hospital
By Jessica Schladebeck
This Monday, May 6, 2019 photo provided by the Manchester VA Medical Center shows a Bible as part of a memorial table display at the veterans hospital in Manchester, N.H. A U.S. Air Force veteran has sued the director of the hospital over the display of the Bible. (Kristin Pressly/AP)
A "devout Christian" and Air Force veteran is suing the Department of Veteran's Affairs over a Bible displayed at a VA medical facility in New Hampshire.
The bible at the center of the controversy was reportedly carried by a prisoner of war in World War II. It's part of the "Missing Man Table" memorial in the lobby of a veteran's hospital in Manchester, which commemorates missing and imprisoned service members.
The federal lawsuit, filed Tuesday by the Military Religious Freedom Foundation on behalf of Veteran James Chamberlain, says featuring the holy text in a display diminishes those who are not Christian, but have also served.
"Despite his strong personal religious beliefs, (Chamberlain) believes that the Christian bible has no place being displayed on the (Prisoner of War/Missing in Action table) table at the entrance way to the MVAMC, where he gets his care," the suit reads, according to the Charlotte Observer.
"As a Christian, he respects and loves all his military brothers and sisters and does not want to be exclusionary by the placement of the Christian bible."
[More U.S. News] Trump whips up crowd with more attacks on Rep. Omar during N.C. campaign rally, supporters roar 'send her back' »
In the suit, the Military Freedom Foundation said 14 patients filed complaints the first week it was displayed in the entrance lobby and dubbed it a violation of the First Amendment. It prompted VA officials in January to remove the bible, which was put back on display in February.
Of those who complained, nine identify as Protestant or Roman Catholic while the others identify as Jewish, Muslim, Native American, Buddhist or atheist/agnostic. Chamberlain this week became the latest to file a complaint about the bible.
The Missing Man Table "has special meaning to all service members and veterans" because it "helps honor the men and women who have sacrificed to protect and serve us all."
[More U.S. News] Sacked Iowa official who loves Tupac captures people's imagination »
The foundation contended in the suit that the display should not be limited to honoring just those with Christian values.
"The original POW/MIA table tradition was started by a group of Vietnam combat pilots and did not include a Bible as one of the table items," the suit reads.
"We would all be outraged if the MVAMC only provided care to Christians, or denied care to non-believers, to those who worship their God in other ways. The placement of a Christian Bible on this sacred table is just as objectionable."
In a statement to the Daily News, Veteran Affairs Press Secretary Curtis Cashour said the Manchester medical center was also flooded with complaints upon the bible's removal from "veterans and other stakeholders — many of whom dropped off Bibles at the facility — in protest."
He added that after consulting with lawyers, the facility decided to put the Bible back out and that it will "remain indefinitely as as part of the missing man display, a secular tribute to the America's POW/MIA community."
"We apologize to the Veterans, families and other stakeholders who were offended by our incorrect removal of this bible," Cashour said.
He also slammed the lawsuit as "nothing more than an attempt to force VA into censoring a show of respect for America POW/MIA community."
"Make no mistake," Cashour added, "We will not be bullied."
With News Wire Services
Trump whips up crowd with more attacks on Rep. Omar during N.C. campaign rally, supporters roar 'send her...