The speaker scheduled to appear at the U.S. Air Force Academy's National Prayer Luncheon on February 10 is former Marine Lt. Clebe McClary. The Military Religious Freedom Foundation (MRFF), supported by a number of other organizations, both religious and secular, has demanded that the Academy rescind its invitation to Lt. McClary, and choose a more appropriate and inclusive speaker for this event. Why? Because of McClary's divisive and highly sectarian fundamentalist Christian message. As stated on McClary's website, "Clebe is what he likes to call a complete Marine. To him USMC will always mean U.S. Marine for Christ." Other statements from McClary make it clear that, to him, only born again Christians are "real" Christians. McClary's message not only excludes members of all non-Christian religions, but many Christians as well, making him a completely inappropriate choice for an Air Force Academy event that should be inclusive of members of all faiths.

As Rodda goes on to detail in her January 21, 2011 Talk To Action story, the Air Force Academy is claiming that the scheduled National Prayer Luncheon is optional and inclusive of different faiths/beliefs but according to Rodda MRFF has been contacted by a group of officers at the Air Force Academy who contradict both of the USAFA's claims.

Click here for MRFF's letter demanding that the Air Force Academy rescind its invitation to Lt. McClary, as well as the letters written by the other organizations supporting MRFF in its demand -- ACLU of Colorado, Veterans for Common Sense, Americans United, Veterans Today, Interfaith Alliance of Colorado, California Council of Churches IMPACT, Colorado Coalition of Reason, United Atheist Front, and The American Muslim.

Clebe McClary is a highly decorated Marine veteran who was critically wounded while on a reconnaissance patrol in Vietnam and has become a noted Christian motivational speaker. MRFF Advisory Board member Bobby Muller, Founder and Former President of Vietnam Veterans Of America and Co-Founder of the 1997 Nobel Peace Prize-winning International Campaign To Ban Land Mines, has issued the following statement:

As a former Marine lieutenant who, like Lt. Clebe McClary, was severely wounded while leading a mission in Vietnam, I am appalled by my fellow Marine's statement that a "complete" Marine is one who likes to think that U.S.M.C. stands for "U.S. Marine for Christ." I am even more appalled that the United States Air Force Academy has invited someone with such a religiously divisive and sectarian message to speak at its upcoming National Prayer Luncheon, an event that should be inclusive of Airmen of all faiths. Lt. McClary lost an eye and an arm; I lost the ability to walk. Countless other Marines, of all religions and no religion, have also suffered life-changing and permanent injuries in the service of our country. Lt. McClary dishonorably, not to mention illegally, appears in the uniform of a Marine before both military and civilian audiences, not with the message of "Once a Marine, Always a Marine," but a message of "Once a Marine, now `a member of the Lord's Army.'" Proselytizing and Christian supremacy have no place in the United States military, and I urge the Air Force Academy to reconsider its choice of Lt. McClary as the speaker for its Prayer Luncheon, and to replace him with a speaker who can deliver a message that is inclusive of members of all faiths. Bobby Muller

Here is a broader overview of this story, written by Mike Ludwig and originally posted at Truthout.org. (copyright permission has been granted for the full reprinting of this story)