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GOES. THEY TOOK THEIR MESSAGE TO THE AIR OVER THE VA HOSPITAL IN MANCHESTER. A GROUP CALLED THE MILITARY RELIGIOUS FREEDOM FOUNDATION H FILED A LAWSUIT TO HAVE THIS BIBLE REMOVED FROM A POW-MIA TABLE IN THE BUILDING’S LOBBY. >> RIGHT NOW, THE V.A. IS A TRAIN WRECK OF UNCONSTITUTIONALITY AS THEY ELEVATE CHRISTIANITY TO THE SUPREME POSITION OF DOMINANCE DIRECT VIOLATION OF THE U.S. CONSTITUTION. IT’S SHAMEFUL, IT’S DISGRACEFUL. ANDY: THE CONTROVERSY STARTED IN JANUARY, WHEN THE MRFF AND THE V.A. AGREED TO REMOVE THE BIBLE FROM THE TABLE. IT WAS PLACED IN A NEARBY CABINET. ABOUT TWO MONTHS LATER, IT WAS PUT BACK ON THE TABLE IN A PLEXI-GLASS CASE. VETERAN PAUL MARTIN’S GROUP, T NORTHEAST POW-MIA NETWORK, GOT THE WORLD WAR II ERA BIBLE FOR THE DISPLAY IN SEPTEMBER OF LAST YEAR. >> EVERYBODY’S ENTITLED TO THEIR OPINION BUT I THINK IT’S A SHAME. IT WOULD BE A SHAME THAT THAT BIBLE BE TAKEN FROM THAT TABLE. ANDY: THE V.A. RELEASED A STATEMENT CALLING THE LAWSUIT NOTHING MORE THAN AN ATTEMPT TO FORCE THE A - FORCE V.A. INTO CENSORING A SHOW OF RESPECT FOR AMERICA’S TRW MIA COMMUNITY. THEY SAID, MAKE NO MISTAKE, V.A. WILL NOT BE BULLIED ON THIS ISSUE. MANY VETERANS VISITING THE DISPLAY HAD STRONG FEELINGS ON THE ISSUE. >> IT’S A SPIRITUAL ITEM THAT MANY OF US VETERANS LOOK TO FOR SUPPORT. I THINK IT WOULD BE A SHAME AND A SIN TO REMOVE IT. >> I FEEL THIS IS A SACRED PLACE AND IT SHOULD BE RESPECTED. THE BIBLE IS PART OF THE RECKONING THAT THERE ARE PEOPLE LEFT BEHIND. ANDY: LAWYERS FOR THE V.A. WILL BE GIVEN A CHANCE TO RESPOND. NO COURT DATES HAVE BEEN

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A Bible on display at the Manchester Veterans Affairs Medical Center is now the subject of a federal lawsuit. The Bible was carried by a prisoner of war in World War II and then made part of a memorial in the Manchester VA, near the entrance. >> Download the FREE WMUR appA patient, James Chamberlain, filed a lawsuit Tuesday to have the Bible removed from the Missing Man Table, where it is displayed inside a secure case.The Bible had been removed in February after a plea from the Military Religious Freedom Foundation, whose leaders said 14 patients complained to them about the Bible's placement. The organization asked the VA to remove the Bible, calling its presence intolerable and unconstitutional."Right now, the VA is a train wreck of unconstitutionality as they elevate Christianity to the supreme position of dominance in direct violation of our U.S. Constitution," said Michael Weinstein of MRFF. "It's shameful. It's disgraceful."VA officials moved the Bible to a nearby display case, sparking opposing efforts to get the Bible moved back to its original spot.After a few weeks, VA officials moved the Bible back, leading to the lawsuit from Chamberlain, the 15th patient to file a complaint with the foundation, according to the lawsuit.Veteran Paul Martin's group, the Northeast POW-MIA Network, obtained the WWII-era bible for the display in September last year."Everybody's entitled to their opinion, but I think it's a shame," Martin said. "It would be a shame that that Bible be taken from that table."In the lawsuit, Chamberlain said he is a devout Christian, but he "believes that our Constitution prohibits the establishment by the government of any specific religious belief and prohibits discrimination against any person because of their religious beliefs or lack thereof. Despite his strong personal religious beliefs, he believes that the Christian Bible has no place being displayed on the POW/MIA table at the entrance way to the MVAMC, where he gets his care." Curt Cashour, press secretary for the Department of Veterans Affairs, released a statement about the lawsuit:"This lawsuit – backed by a group known for questionable practices and unsuccessful lawsuits – is nothing more than an attempt to force VA into censoring a show of respect for America’s POW/MIA community. Make no mistake: VA will not be bullied on this issue. After receiving a complaint in late January about a Bible included in a Northeast POW/MIA Network-sponsored POW/MIA table, Manchester VAMC officials temporarily removed the Bible from the display out of an abundance of caution. Following that removal, Manchester VAMC received an outpouring of complaints from Veterans and other stakeholders – many of whom dropped off Bibles at the facility – in protest of this action. After consulting with legal counsel, Manchester VAMC has again placed the Bible on display, where it will remain indefinitely as part of the POW/MIA table, a secular tribute to America’s POW/MIA community. We apologize to the Veterans, families and other stakeholders who were offended by the facility’s incorrect removal of this Bible."Mike Berry, chief of staff and director of military affairs for First Liberty Institute, which represents the veterans group who donated the memorial table, has also released a statement:“POW/MIA Remembrance displays have a long, cherished history in our nation. Veterans organizations like the Northeast POW/MIA Network should be able to honor and remember those killed, captured or missing with a display that includes a Bible donated by a WWII veteran that represents the strength through faith necessary for American service members to survive.”Many veterans visiting the display had strong feelings on the issue."It's a spiritual item that many of us veterans look to for support," Marine Guy Emerson said. "I think it would be a shame and a sin to remove it.""I feel this is a sacred place, and it should be respected," Air Force veteran John Fee said. "The Bible is part of the reckoning that there are people left behind."No court date has been set.