Rodriguez enlisted in the Air Force in 1980 and retired as senior master sergeant in 2013.
“For many years, Rodriguez regularly performed a patriotic flag-folding speech at retirement ceremonies, and civic and patriotic events,” the Institute reported, “In 2013, Congressman John Garamendi, D-Calif., sent Rodriguez a hand-written note thanking him for his service, and expressing how moved he was when he observed Oscar delivering his flag-folding speech at the California State Fair.”
So when Master Sgt. Charles Roberson retired just two months ago, he arranged for Rodriguez to deliver his flag-folding speech.
However, when Roberson’s unit commander “discovered that Rodriguez would be delivering the flag-folding speech, which mentions ‘God,’ during the ceremony, he attempted to prevent Rodriguez from attending.”
“After learning that he lacked authority to prevent Rodriguez from attending, the commander then told Roberson that Rodriguez could not give the speech. Rodriguez asked Roberson what he should do, and Roberson responded that it was his personal desire that Rodriguez give the flag-folding speech as planned.
“Roberson and Rodriguez tried to clear the speech through higher authorities at Travis Air Force Base, even offering to place notices on the door informing guests that the word ‘God’ would be mentioned. They never received a response from the authorities. As an Air Force veteran himself, Rodriguez stood firm on his commitment to Roberson.
“But when Rodriguez stood up to perform the flag-folding speech on the day of the ceremony as requested by Roberson, uniformed airmen approached him and warned, ‘You’re really going to do this?'” First Liberty reported.
When he started speaking he was dragged from the room, and Travis Air Force Base officials then removed Rodriguez from the installation entirely.
“I have given more than three decades of service to the military and made many sacrifices for my country,” said Rodriguez in a prepared statement. “To have the Air Force assault me and drag me out of a retirement ceremony simply because my speech included the word ‘God’ is something I never expected from our military.”
Berry said the Constitution protects Rodriguez’s statements.
“The Air Force had no right to assault a citizen, much less a 33-year military veteran, because they didn’t want him to mention ‘God,'” he said. “Mr. Rodriguez has a constitutional right to free speech and religious expression, even on a military base.”
In 2011, the military demanded a pastor submit his prayer for approval before a Memorial Day event at a military cemetery in Houston, resulting in an order he not say “God” or “Jesus.”
First Liberty successfully fought the demand.