WASHINGTON, May 25 (UPI) -- U.S. military officials say that there is no government sponsorship of a "Salute to the Troops" celebration planned by a Christian group.
The Memorial Day event at Stone Mountain in Georgia was organized by Task Force Patriot USA. The group's Web site and the newspaper at Robins Air Force Base described the salute as "an official U.S. Air Force 60th Anniversary event."
The program includes a Christian service with "testimony" from an active-duty Air Force pilot with a flyover of Stealth bombers, a brochure said.
But Air Force Secretary Michael Wynne and Acting Army Secretary Peter Geren, in response to a complaint from Americans United for Church and State, said they only learned recently of the religious element in the event, The Washington Post reported. They said they had asked Task Force Patriot to remove any suggestions of official sponsorship.
While there will be flyovers and flying exhibitions, they won't be coordinated with religious events, Wynne said. Any military personnel who participate will be doing so as individuals.
