Oct. 24, 2001

Contact: Capt. Mike Isom (509-963-3581/fax 509-963-3588/e-mail: misom@cwu.edu)

ELLENSBURG, Wash. - Acknowledging that trying to address the subject matter in an hour-long presentation was “like trying to hold an elephant in your hand,” retired Brig. Gen. Victor C. Langford III, the first African-American general appointed in the Washington National Guard, discussed “Religion in the Military” today (Wednesday, Oct. 24) at Central Washington University.

“One might think that there is a disconnect between having a deep faith in God Almighty and yet be committed to the use of military force in defense of one’s nation,” Langford said. “However, the reality is, in the world past, present and future, war will be. As long as we live in a world in which there are individuals who will choose to disrupt the freedom of others, we must be prepared to defend ourselves.”

Before retiring this past August, following more than 29 years in the military, Langford served as the Army National Guard assistant chief of chaplains. Since 1977, he has also been a minister at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in Seattle.

During his 10 a.m. forum in the Samuelson Union Building (SUB) Pit, Langford noted that military chaplaincy was actually established prior to the founding of the country and can be traced back to July 29, 1775. He added that it is second only to the infantry as the longest-serving branch of the Army.

“In the military, the role of the chaplain is to facilitate the free exercise of religion, whatever the religious faith,” he said. At present, there are military chaplains representing more than 200 “endorsing agencies,” including the Catholic, Protestant, Jewish and even Islamic faiths.

“The government does not set forth the religious requirements,” he adds. “All that the military requires is that you be physically fit, that you be educationally trained and, when it comes to the religious basis for serving, they leave that up to each religious faith group. The denominations determine what principles, training, requirements and practices they establish for the chaplaincy.”

Langford’s presentation was made in conjunction with Central’s 2001 Homecoming, titled “In Search of Legends and Heroes,” which honors CWU alumni, faculty, staff and students who have served or are now serving in the military.

Langford peppered his remarks with references and readings from the U.S. Constitution, several works dealing with the faith of the Founding Fathers and concluding with the Bible. Citing Ecclesiastes 3:8, he noted the warning that there’s “a time for war, a time for peace.”

“It is our desire that the time for war would be ever so brief and short, and that the time of peace would be long and prevail,” Langford stated. “But, it is our right, it is our responsibility and it is our duty as citizens of the United States to be fully committed to the defense of our nation, its people, its freedoms, its liberties and all of its rights. That is not only sane, but sound thinking and reasoning — and well established.”