Air Force Base Bans Guards From Saying 'Have a Blessed Day' Before Quickly Reversing Course

A Georgia Air Force base that made headlines after banning guards' use of the phrase "have a blessed day" quickly reversed course and will now allow the saying, so long as those who use it "remain courteous and professional."

Officials at Robins Air Force Base in Warner Robins, Georgia, told gate guards that they could no longer "bless" those coming into the installation after a "non-religious" individual complained to the Military Religious Freedom Foundation, a group dedicated to the separation of church and state.

The unnamed individual claimed that it was inappropriate for guards to say "have a blessed day" on a multitude of occassions, leading the base to preclude employees from using the saying and, instead, encouraged them to say, "have a great day," according to WMAZ-TV.

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The brief policy change was made after the complainant sent an email to the Military Religious Freedom Foundation, claiming that he or she is an active-duty member of the Air Force who is stationed at the base, detailing the supposedly inappropriate greeting.

"On no less than 15 occasions over the last two weeks, I have been greeted by the military personnel at the gate with the phrase," the email read. "This greeting has been expressed by at least 10 different Airmen ranging in rank from A1C to SSgt. I found the greeting to be a notion that I, as a non-religious member of the military community should believe a higher power has an influence on how my day should go."

A response to that message from Military Religious Freedom Foundation president Mikey Weinstein noted that, after a conversation with the commander at the base, it was decided that a more non-sectarian greeting would be used, leading the complainant to send a response to Weinstein, thanking him for his efforts.

"Thank you for the quick response to the situation at my base," it read. "After your actions, the personnel at the gates have immediately changed their greetings to a more professional, 'Have a nice/good day sir/maam.'"

But it appears that the purported ban was short-lived, as conservative commentator Todd Starnes reported that it didn't take long for the ban to be reversed and overturned, with the base now proclaiming that "have a blessed day" is "consistent with Air Force standards."

Here's the full response that Starnes received when he inquired:

"We are a professional organization defended by a professional force. Our defenders portray a professional image that represents a base all of Middle Georgia can be proud of.  Defenders have been asked to use the standard phrase “Welcome to Team Robins” in their greeting and can add various follow-on greetings as long as they remain courteous and professional.

The Air Force takes any expressed concern over religious freedom very seriously. Upon further review and consultation, the Air Force determined use of the phrase “have a blessed day” as a greeting is consistent with Air Force standards and is not in violation of Air Force Instructions."

Weinstein told the Air Force Times that he will consult with attorneys to see whether any clients would like to sue in federal court over the matter, concluding that the "Air Force has not heard the last of this."

(H/T: WMAZ-TV)

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