Retired Air Force Civilian Physically Removed from Retirement Ceremony Because of He Planned to Say the Word “God”
I have been to a lot of different retirement ceremonies involving personnel from all branches of the military. I have never seen anything even close to what happened at this airmen’s retirement ceremony:
Retired SMSgt. Oscar Rodriguez is known for his moving and patriotic renditions of a specialized script during the folding of Old Glory at various ceremonies and tributes around the Travis Air Force Base community. He’s been performing the script for years at the invitation of honorees and friends.
But when he showed up to provide his famed rendition at the retirement tribute for MSgt. Chuck Roberson, things went terribly wrong. What should have been a dignified moment creating a lasting memory for Roberson, his family, and the Air Force teammates he was bidding farewell turned into a shameful spectacle. When Rodriguez arose to make his remarks, he was approached by uniformed NCOs who demanded that he shut up and sit down. When he refused, three of the men proceeded to lay hands on on Rodriguez and remove him from the ceremony — and indeed the building — through physical force. [John Q. Public Blog]
You can read more and see the video of the altercation at the link.
Apparently the squadron commander did not want the retired NCO to take part in the flag ceremony because he uses the word “God” in his script. When retiree stepped up to take part in the flag ceremony that is when the squadron commander sent personnel to physically remove him from the ceremony. This whole thing is pretty odd because just about every retirement ceremony has the chaplain give an invocation that uses the word “God” so the ceremony already has religious connotations which the squadron was apparently trying to stamp out by denying the retiree from participating in the flag ceremony.
It seems this whole thing could have been better handled all around, but it does make me wonder if the retirement ceremony was taking place in a venue that the retiree paid for, if the commander can unilaterally make a decision on what guests they can kick out?
I’ve been to quite a few USAF retirement ceremonies too and never seen anything like this either. I think every one I’ve been to had the chaplain’s invocation too.
I’m betting there’s more to this story.
Leon would approve!
@Liz, reading the articles on this it appears the full story has come out. The NCO that was retiring was specifically told by his commander not to use the retired NCO to do the flag ceremony due to past incidents where he used the term God during the flag ceremony. The retiring NCO did not want to follow what the squadron commander said because he felt it was his ceremony and he told the retired NCO to go ahead and do the flag ceremony anyway. The commanders gets pissed when the retired NCO begins to do the flag ceremony and directs some of his people to forcibly removed the retired NCO from the building.
Like I said before I would love to hear a legal opinion if a squadron commander has the right to forcibly kick out a civilian at an event reserved and paid for by the retiring NCO? For example if someone had a unit event at their house could the squadron commander kick civilians out who he did not like as well?
Next time, just wear a turban.
I just read further too. Looks like the protocol was written in the regulations by order of the Secretary of the Airforce.
From JQ public: “But like many Air Force rules, it withers under scrutiny.”
JQ Public might be right about “rules” but thems the rules. Which means the squadron commander in this case had no discretion, he had to either enforce the rules or he would be held accountable if someone (anyone) complained for any reason.
“Like I said before I would love to hear a legal opinion if a squadron commander has the right to forcibly kick out a civilian at an event reserved and paid for by the retiring NCO? For example if someone had a unit event at their house could the squadron commander kick civilians out who he did not like as well?”
I’d like to ask my husband (he was a squadron commander a few years back) but he is away on a trip. But the answer would depend on whether the squadron commander is ultimately responsible. If he’s be held accountable for folks violating protocol, he will get spun up. This is all about covering his (or her…I woudln’t be surprised if the squadron commander was a she) backside. It’s a really cut throat environment right now in the USAF.
After watching the video, it looks like a couple of those NCOs are also pushing (pun intended, lol) the limits of the Air Force weight standards, 😛