Congress changes rules on religious expressions on flag documents

Congress changes rules on religious expressions on flag documents

WASHINGTON (AP) -- A 17-year-old Eagle Scout from Ohio who wanted to honor his grandfather's "love of God, country and family" with a flag flown over the U.S. Capitol has helped remove a ban on the word "God" in certificates that accompany these flags.

The acting Architect of the Capitol, Stephen Ayers, said Thursday he was revising guidelines on Capitol flag certificates because it was "beyond the scope of this agency's responsibilities to censor messages from members of Congress."

Last week Rep. Michael Turner, R-Ohio, protested upon learning that the Architect's office had removed the word "God" from the certificate of authenticity accompanying a flag 17-year-old Andrew Larochelle of Dayton wanted to give his grandfather.

The boy had asked that the certificate read: "This flag was flown in honor of Marcel Larochelle, my grandfather, for his dedication and love of God, country and family."

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I have a US flag that flew over the Capitol in DC and a Virginia flag that flew over the capitol in Richmond. While I cherish those two pieces of cloth, I kinda wish somebody besides Eric Cantor gave them to me.

This was the kid's request. No one in government forced him to stand up before class and pledge his allegiance to God, no one forced him to say a prayer before a school basketball game. He simply wrote an inscription of love for his grandfather. There is no reason for the government to be editing his words.

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