Blake Hall
In response to a sizable public uproar, the Air Force lifted a ban — just hours after levying it — that prohibited Robins Air Force Base security personnel from delivering the popular “have a blessed day” greeting to visitors passing through the entrance.
The origin of the ban can be traced back to a complaint filed by an unidentified airman who passed along his grievance regarding the salutation to the Military Religious Freedom Foundation.
The base then issued the restriction when the foundation forwarded them the gripe.
When the issue reached the frying pan of social media and the internet however, the Air Force relented, and issued this statement:
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.
The content of the airman’s displeasure, which was posted on the foundation’s website, stated the following: “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.”
Within hours of the ban being effective, a Facebook page popped up titled “Blessed Day at Robins AFB”. At day’s end, it had 2,253 Likes.