Original email from Retired U.S. Army Soldier which initated MRFF's immediate response to get the New Testament Bible removed from Chillicothe VAMC Mental Health Clinic Waiting Room
From: Retired U.S. Army Soldier's E-Mail Address Withheld
Subject: Bible in VA Waiting Room
Date: October 14, 2016 at 3:16:20 PM MDT
To: Mikey
Dear Sir/Madam,
I am writing to you today to request advocacy regarding a Bible in my local VA Clinic's Mental Health waiting room.
As a medically retired combat veteran who deployed to (military assignment location withheld) with the (infantry division witheld), I feel that a single religious text in a government office such as this represents an endorsement of that religion- an act which is a direct affront to the constitutional protections I fought to preserve. Our government is secular, and must remain secular.
I requested that the Bible be removed, and it was not. My request was met mostly with confusion, and I do not necessarily believe there is any malicious intent. Instead, I suspect there is a lack of understanding of the fact that a religious text should not be there at all. I sense an honest ignorance to the problem, which must be met with education. I request that you assist me in this process, as the severity of my service-connected PTSD would make it difficult for me to resolve the issue professionally, and without potentially creating additional problems for myself.
*The image below was captured today, October 14, 2016, in the Mental Health waiting room in the Athens, OH VA Clinic at 510 W Union St, Athens, OH 45701. The clinic can be reached at
(phone number withheld) or (website withheld).
(*The image of the New Testament Bible on waiting room table was attached to original email.)
Response to Mikey from Chillicothe VAMC's Associate Chief, Pharm.D, R.Ph
Adam Jackson confirming New Testament Bible removal, after MRFF's removal demand
From: "Jackson, Adam (Chillicothe)"
Subject: VA Athens Clinic Concern
Date: October 17, 2016 at 8:13:45 AM PDT
To: Mikey
Cc: "McManaway, Tina"
Hello,
I wanted to respond back as soon as possible to confirm with you that the Athens clinic has searched their waiting rooms and did find 1 bible. The Athens CBOC is unsure how this came into the clinic but it has been removed. The clinic did not find any other religious material and we routinely have environment of care rounding teams that look for such material. I did place 2 phone calls to your cell phone and they were answered by someone else. If you want to contact me directly at the phone and extension below feel free to do so.
Thank you
Adam Jackson, Pharm.D, R.Ph
Associate Chief, Primary and Preventive Care Line
Chillicothe VAMC
(phone number withheld)
(Emphasis added by editor)
Mikey's sincere thanks in response to Chillicothe VAMC's crucial New Testament Bible removal
From: Mikey
Subject: Re: VA Athens Clinic Concern
Date: October 17, 2016 at 9:02:59 AM PDT
To: "Jackson, Adam (Chillicothe)"
Cc: "McManaway, Tina"
Thank you very much Adam... I just landed in (city withheld)... I am sorry you were not able to get a hold of me while I was in the air... I just left a message for you... Please try me again on my regular number at xxx-xxx-xxxx... On be half of our honorable veteran clients, we sincerely thank you and your VA staff for removing the Bible and complying with the Constitution... respectively, Mikey Weinstein, Founder and President, Military Religious Freedom Foundation...
A heartfelt thank you to MRFF from the lead Retired U.S. Army Soldier who brought the issue of the New Testament Bible in Chillicothe VAMC's Mental Health Clinic to MRFF's attention
From: Retired U.S. Army Soldier's E-Mail Address Withheld
Date: October 17, 2016 at 12:01:18 PM PDT
To: Mikey
Subject: Thank You
To the MRFF,
Thank you for advocating on my behalf regarding the Bible in the Athens, OH VA and getting it removed in just a few hours. It may seem like a small thing to some, but to myself and other veterans here who were trained to pay attention to detail and do the right thing, it is greatly appreciated.
We live in times where the concept of religion being involved in government has been reintroduced as an option by many politicians. This basic constitutional concept that there should be a separation of church and state is something that we can no longer take for granted. As a combat veteran who fought personally to defend constitutional freedoms, this is important to me and I know it is important to many of my fellow veterans and soldiers as well.
I am glad the MRFF has become a champion of this cause- many soldiers and veterans alike may need an outside advocate to approach an issue like this, whether it's a bible in the waiting room or a plaque of the 10 commandments in a superior's office. Many of those soldiers and veterans may not know who to go to if they run into a problem like I did, and I hope they can take this example and know the MRFF is there to support them.
Thanks again,
VR
(Retired U.S. Army Soldier's name, rank, MOS, unit and installation all withheld)