'Army halts medallions due to Bible reference'

June 24, 2004: The U.S. Army returned private-sector medallions designed to memorialize fallen American soldiers due to a Bible verse on the back of the items.

According to WBIR-TV in Knoxville, Tennessee, Bob Parker of the nonprofit group "Fallen Friend" had been sending the special medallions to the survivors of soldiers and police officers killed in the line of duty since 1996.

But while the front side of the medallions featured an image of the Liberty Bell and two quotations: "Liberty Rings For All Nations" and "United We Stand, Divided We Fall," the back side said "John 15:13" and "A Fallen Friend," and it included a space for the name of the person who was killed.

"That is Jesus' word, John 15:13," Parker told the NBC affiliate. The verse states: "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends."

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Parker had been getting names of servicemen and women from the military, but the Army began refusing to cooperate.

"I break down and cry when I know that I have had a positive effect on speeding up the healing process of these families," Parker said.

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