The Air Force has quickly reversed a ban on the words “have a blessed day” when used by military personnel to greet visitors at the security gate entrance to Robins Air Force Base.
Air Force officials had implemented the ban within minutes of receiving a complaint from activist Mikey Weinstein of the Military Religious Freedom Foundation.
“Using the phrase ‘have a blessed day’ is not offensive; it is common courtesy,” said Chaplain (COL) Ron Crews, USA Retired, executive director of Chaplain Alliance for Religious Liberty, who discussed the ban Friday during a network television interview. “We commend the Air Force for this return to sanity.”
The full Air Force statement reads as follows:
“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. 78th Security Forces members 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.”
