Fighting Back: Honor Guardsman Who Said ‘God Bless You’ Wins Victory For All     8/13/2003
By Martha Kleder

Secular zealots lose one as Cubbage is reinstated

An honor guardsman fired by New Jersey for saying “God bless you” during graveside flag presentations has been reinstated and given full back pay.

SSgt Patrick Cubbage, a Vietnam combat veteran from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, returned to his duties at the Gen. William C. Doyle Veterans Memorial Cemetery in North Hanover, New Jersey on August 11.

“This means we have beat them back in yet another forum,” Rutherford Institute President John W. Whitehead told the Culture & Family Report, referring to the forces seeking to remove all mention of God from public life. The Rutherford Institute represented Cubbage in his efforts to return to work.

The flag presentation ceremony which begins, “This flag is presented on behalf of a grateful nation and the United States Army (or other service) as a token of appreciation for your loved one’s honorable and faithful service,” became an issue when Cubbage added the customary language found in the federal flag manual given to him by his employer. The presentation continues, “God bless you and this family, and God bless the United States of America.” Cubbage, himself an evangelical Christian, included that line in the presentation whenever the service was led by clergy.

Another honor guardsman complained about the line mentioning God to officials at Doyle. Cemetery officials then warned Cubbage to include the line only when it was requested by the family.

On October 31, 2002, at the request of the deceased’s family, Cubbage included that line in the flag presentation. A fellow honor guardsman complained again, and Cubbage was fired.

The firing left Cubbage out of work for 10 months while Rutherford attorneys negotiated with cemetery officials.

While Cubbage was offered his job back in January, the conditions of that offer were inadequate and a lawsuit was filed. That suit was dropped when a settlement agreement was reached with the New Jersey Department of Military and Veteran’s Affairs (DMAVA).

“Under a settlement agreement reached with DMAVA, Patrick gets his job back, receives full back pay, and a new, clarified policy has been enacted,” Whitehead added.

“Under this new policy, the Internment Supervisor must ask each family to submit their preferences for the blessing in writing,” Whitehead said. “In addition there is an additional component offered, of a prayer from a military chaplain.”

Whitehead said this policy is important because it requires the cemetery to ask. “While before the cemetery could ask, now they have to do ask.”

“I’m sure this will lead to many more families asking for the blessing,” he added.

Whitehead commended Cubbage for taking a stand against the forces of secularization.

“This case shows that one man, acting on his faith, can change history,” he said. “This victory was not easy for Patrick. He lost his job, he lost pay, but he stood his ground and was victorious.”

Whitehead said the new policy enacted at Gen. William C. Doyle Veterans Memorial Cemetery will likely have an impact beyond New Jersey.

“News travels fast in these circles,” he said. “Once a ruling or a settlement is reached in a case like this other veteran’s cemeteries are quick to adopt. That could likely be the case here, since Patrick’s actions in adding the blessing fall under Department of Defense guidelines.”

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