http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/us/2012/July ... ay-Parade/The Defense Department made the decision in anticipation of the national attention surrounding the event and because organizers had encouraged military personnel to participate in their uniforms.
The Pentagon said the allowance is only for this years parade in San Diego and does not extend beyond that.So what happens next year when they again encourage military personnel to participate?
This weekend, participating troops must still strictly adhere to military policy regarding behavior while in uniform. The policy states that uniformed personnel cannot appear to endorse or selectively benefit groups or individuals, provide a platform for a political message, or appear to be commercially sponsored.So, what do they think THIS does? How can they adhere to military policy, when they are being allowed to break it? They ARE endorsing a group of people. It is a slap in the face to everyone in the military that they are not allowed to participate in uniform in an event that is important to them, but an exception has been made for a select group of people and a select cause. When you are in uniform at an event, you are representing your whole branch and saying, "this is what we support!" Well, thank God I got out when I did and they are NOT speaking for me!
This kind of goes along with my ChickFilA post, in that this has nothing to do with the military and defending our country and they have no reason being there representing the military! They want to go as an individual in civilian clothes on their own time, fine! But every person who showed up to the parade in uniform doesn't deserve to put it on again and they should be reprimanded, not encouraged by the DOD!