Ordinarily, America's Memorial Day is the beginning of our summer holidays. We often observe the day by having local Scout troops place small American flags on the graves of fallen warriors. Many of us make sure to tell our children about service members' sacrifice and use this time to explain to them the price of liberty. Freedom is not free, we tell them. And so, while we are grateful for a holiday, for extra time for family cookouts, church picnics, sports and games, for auto races, or sailboat regattas, we also recognize a somber undertone to the day.

Today, our observance of Memorial Day must be tempered with a real disquiet. For the first time in 238 years of American arms, that shield of the republic, our all-volunteer military, is itself a target.

In the last few months, militant atheizers have gained privileged access to our Defense Department. They are getting a sympathetic hearing from many there. These atheizers boast that they have made progress toward their goal of completely suppressing open expression of Christian faith in our armed forces. They want this and much more. They demand that anyone in uniform who shares his faith, who dares to proselytize, be court-martialed for treason and sedition.

This anti-American demand is deeply offensive to tens of thousands of our soldiers serving today. To the ... (more)