An incident in which a retired Air Force
veteran was thrown out of a retirement ceremony for reciting a statement
honoring the American flag is now being investigated. In the video, you
can see him being forcibly removed as he continues to speak.
What began as a dignified affair quickly
turned into an embarrassing scene after a retired Air Force official was
forcibly ejected from his colleague’s retiree ceremony.
The event was being held at Travis Air
Force Base in California for Master Sergeant Chuck Roberson of the 749th
Aircraft Maintenance Squadron.
But the service was interrupted when Retired Senior Master Sgt. Oscar
Rodriguez was forcibly ejected from the stage as he began to read out a
statement honoring the American Flag to the audience.
However, the recital was not a part of the usual procedure at retirement ceremonies and Rodriguez was told to stop.
A video that captured the incident shows
two men in camouflage uniform approach Rodriguez and say something
quietly, but he appears not to respond.
As the American flag is unfurled next to
him on stage he begins is statement: ‘Our flag is known as the stars and
stripes. A union consists of white stars and a blue field above it.
‘Each star represents one individual state. together they stand united in the visible.’
But as he does the two men push him off
stage while he continues to shout out the words, he is eventually pushed
out of the room, but his shouts can still be heard in the distance.
'The
squadron commander and Oscar have issues from years ago the commander
said he did not want him in the building nor saying the words to the
flag.
'Remember
he is my friend's guest. So instead of letting him finish what he
started saying he had his trolls assault him dragging him out of the
building as you can here [sic] him still saying the words to the flag.
And you can here joe saying' do it do it.
'Theater
is full of family and guests and fellow Air Force members. This could
have been handled in a much better way instead of tainting my friend's
retirement. This is how we treat our fellow Air Force veterans. Yes I'm
pissed off.'
And
Stephen Sila, who identified himself as the officiating officer at the
ceremony posted a long explainer on the Facebook page of John Q Public, an army blog where the story first appeared.
Sila
said that Rodriguez had been invited to speak at the ceremony and had
planned to read a statement honoring the flag and that his appearance
had been cleared through the proper avenues.
But
non squadron CC apparently had an issue with Rodriguez attending,
apparently stemming from a personal issue at a previous squadron between
the squadron CC and Mr Rodriguez, claimed Sila.
He added: 'Why do you think people are leaving (the Air Force) in droves?
'Because
the guys in the trenches are subjected to nonstop stupidity from
commanders who don't deserve the rank, respect, or support of the people
they're in charge of.'
But the Air Force Reserve said in the statement it 'respects and defends the right to free speech and religious expression.'
Read more: Daily Mail
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