Air Force Under Attack For Helping Salvation Army Provide Christmas to Needy Kids

[pipedreams]

"The Military Religious Freedom Foundation has engaged in some pretty despicable behavior over the years — from demanding that the Baby Jesus be removed from military bases to complaining about Bibles on Missing Man tables.

But their recent attack on the Airmen at Grand Forks Air Force Base in North Dakota is so outrageous even the Grinch is wondering, “Dude, what the hell?”

The MRFF is infuriated because Airmen were encouraged to volunteer with the Salvation Army to hand out food baskets and gifts to families in need."

https://www.toddstarnes.com/show/air-force-under-attack-for-helping-salvation-army-provide-christmas-to-needy-kids/

"“The Constitution does not prohibit active duty service members, reservists or Department of Defense employees from voluntarily participating in community service events with the Salvation Army,” Berry wrote.

And military regulations clearly point out that volunteer service is permitted so long as there is no Department of Defense endorsement of any non-Federal entity."

[janice6]

2 hours ago, pipedreams said:

"The Military Religious Freedom Foundation has engaged in some pretty despicable behavior over the years — from demanding that the Baby Jesus be removed from military bases to complaining about Bibles on Missing Man tables.

But their recent attack on the Airmen at Grand Forks Air Force Base in North Dakota is so outrageous even the Grinch is wondering, “Dude, what the hell?”

The MRFF is infuriated because Airmen were encouraged to volunteer with the Salvation Army to hand out food baskets and gifts to families in need."

https://www.toddstarnes.com/show/air-force-under-attack-for-helping-salvation-army-provide-christmas-to-needy-kids/

"“The Constitution does not prohibit active duty service members, reservists or Department of Defense employees from voluntarily participating in community service events with the Salvation Army,” Berry wrote.

And military regulations clearly point out that volunteer service is permitted so long as there is no Department of Defense endorsement of any non-Federal entity."

Our military helps in time of need.  Not everyone needs killing!  Our Military is the best!

[Mike]

We always donate gifts to "Toys For Tots" (because kids shouldn't be penalized because their parents make horrible decisions), which if I am not mistaken is The Marine's doing.

[Bish1309]

On 12/31/2019 at 11:17 PM, Mike said:

We always donate gifts to "Toys For Tots" (because kids shouldn't be penalized because their parents make horrible decisions), which if I am not mistaken is The Marine's doing.

Yes, that would be correct. We have a toy "drive" every October here. It's org'd and manned by our local Harley bikers. Usually several hundred ( I might be underguessing ) bikes start in a parking lot on the west end of town and unless you have and display a brand new unwrapped toy, are not allowed in the drive. We traverse through town and end up on the far east end of the city were they are all loaded into large military vehicles manned by Marines. It's so damn cool. I've done it every year I've owned a motorcycle.

[n2g]

Late reply, but...

Chick-Fil-A's leadership recently announced they'd no longer make any charitable contributions to the Salvation Army.  They supposedly want to focus on education and helping the homeless/needy instead.  Like the Salvation Army doesn't help the homeless and needy??

Mr. Cathy must be spinning in his grave at this change that was made purely for PC reasons.

I hope the Air Force stood firm and not buckle under to this PC pressure.  Thanks for posting.

 

 

 

 

[Historian]

On 12/31/2019 at 1:29 PM, janice6 said:

Our military helps in time of need.  Not everyone needs killing!  Our Military is the best!

Actually.  While good at violence.  They tend to do much more regularly.

I am actually kind of lost trying to come up with a complete list of what they can do.  They have everything from world class cooks, doctors, pilots, musicians, you name it.

Hell the navy band has a country group called Country Currants that has a standing yearly offer with the Grand Ole Opry,   The US Marine Band in DC is as good as any symphony anywhere in the world.

Just google the name Jonny Kim.   Not sure what that guy hasn't done...but he was busy being a Seal, Doctor and Astronaut, ham radio operator, pilot, husband, dad, brother.  (Seriously dude, if you're reading this give the rest of us a chance.)  

Bet he becomes the 1st and only...door gunner on the ISS.

I guess they don't have an in house golf course turf management program.

 

Edited April 9, 2020 by Historian

[Historian]

On 1/1/2020 at 12:17 AM, Mike said:

We always donate gifts to "Toys For Tots" (because kids shouldn't be penalized because their parents make horrible decisions), which if I am not mistaken is The Marine's doing.

That program was started by a reserve unit.  It is one of the greatest things the Marines ever did.  It was an example of just doing the right thing.

By the way do you know the story of Norad ad Santa?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NORAD_Tracks_Santa

And i might add every year:  Each nation's air force escorts Santa.   As I understand it...the Canadians hand it off to us.   The Canadians escort Santa with F18s.

And my bet is Commander Hadfield probably leads this team.    That Canadian has done everything.

[Moshe]

On ‎12‎/‎31‎/‎2019 at 11:17 PM, Mike said:

We always donate gifts to "Toys For Tots" (because kids shouldn't be penalized because their parents make horrible decisions), which if I am not mistaken is The Marine's doing.

Also, a lot of Federal and Local LEO's.  It was a yearly tradition to pick a needy family that social services would identify and work from need to making their Christmas a real one for them.  I won't get into the whole Christmas/Saturnalia debate.  It was simply a cool thing to do for a family in need.  I would go down and drop off the wrapped items to Social Services with an MSS anonymously.  We weren't in it for the glory, just to make someone's crappy life better.

Also, if someone wishes me a Merry Christmas, I am not going to freak out.  I think my wife's need for an indoor tree is silly, considering we live acres of forest.

[janice6]

I help a little occasionally, for a neighbor that is working hard to raise a little boy without help.  I don't expect anything but a thank you.  I pet her dog and give the dog treats while talking with her little boy over the fence.  They are nice people.  Sometimes I drop off takeout or something for her coffee, etc.

If she does anything more to thank me, it makes me very uncomfortable.  Very uncomfortable!

She typically says, "You don't have...…….", at that point I cut her off and tell her that I don't do a damn thing I feel I have to, I do things because I want to, and it makes me happy to see the other person happy, even if it's just for a little while.  I firmly believe that people deserve a good day once in a while, I'm pleased if I can make that happen.

[TXUSMC]

Toys for Tots is a good example of good intentions that became a “monster” of sorts. As was stated, it was started in the Marine Corps Reserves, with the goal of collecting, new, used, or even broken-but-repairable toys to donate to needy kids. It was successful beyond initial hopes, and the most powerful of all Marine units, the Public Affairs Office at USMC HQ, exerted huge pressure to make it even more successful.

Pretty soon, Toys for Tots became unofficially more important than the Reserve units being combat ready. Units received quotes for toys to be collected— and only new toys. Soliciting toy donations from major companies became the norm, and pretty soon the Marines had to find storage facilities for the toys. I’m talking warehouse storage. It was out of control.

It got so big that formal training was instituted for local Toys forTots managers — mostly civilians now, because the Corps finally figured out that playing Santa was cutting into combat readiness.

As with anything, good intentions are often complicated by folks who feel “entitled” to toys. My wife and I worked toy distribution last December. While many recipients were thankful, far too many cussed us out when their demands could not be met. We won’t be helping this year.

 

[pipedreams]

8 hours ago, TXUSMC said:

As with anything, good intentions are often complicated by folks who feel “entitled” to toys. My wife and I worked toy distribution last December. While many recipients were thankful, far too many cussed us out when their demands could not be met. We won’t be helping this year.

 

Your right about the recipients, a friend of ours, a Marine and 5th degree black belt was playing Santa a couple years back.  They went to this house and the children were excited but the male member of the house was drinking beer and had the TV on loud.  Santa was ticked and told the guy to turn the TV off and join the children.  The guy mouthed off and Santa's pardner had to tell Santa to cool it before he cleaned the guys clock.  Last year my wife was helping with gifts through the church.  An adult would come and pick up the gifts and take them home for Christmas eve.  One lady had the nerve to complain that the gifts weren't wrapped and didn't even say thank you.

Edited June 12, 2020 by pipedreams