Pentagon criticized over flyover flap in Idaho

NAMPA, Idaho — Idaho Lt. Gov. Brad Little said Friday military officials made a mistake by denying a flyover at the annual God and Country Family Festival earlier this month.

The U.S. Department of Defense cited a policy not to allow military flyovers at events with a religious theme when it didn’t allow planes to buzz the event in Nampa on July 1.

“This is political correctness run amok,” Little said in a statement.

The non-denominational event honors all branches of the U.S. armed forces and acknowledges their sacrifices for freedom, he said.

A Department of Defense policy adopted in November 2001 prohibits support for an event that “provides a selective benefit to any individual, group or organization, including any religious or sectarian organization.”

Pentagon officials said military flyovers were staged at the event in previous years because it focused more on the patriotism and avoided direct ties to Christianity.

In his statement, Little said he wondered if other events would be excluded from fly-bys if participants sang “God Bless America.”

“This was a lapse in judgment and the Pentagon ought to own up to it and make sure it doesn’t happen again,” he said.

Little, an appointee of Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter, is running in the 2010 race for lieutenant governor.

Patti Syme, festival director, said the group has received phone calls from around the country offering support. The group has put a petition on its Web site to try and get a military flyover next year.

“We want to make it clear that although it is unashamedly a Christian event, a major part of the festival is honoring our troops who protect our freedom to assemble,” the group said on the site.