Can you stand and say nothing? Compromise?

stick to your guns excuse the pun

Do you mean precedent?..and indeed freedom of religion does mean freedom from it..sadly that line has been blurred.

I think the word you wanted to use was "precedent", not president.

Religion is so ingrained in the military. But it didn't really bug me much. Other than they wouldn't allow me to be agnostic..."So, you're an Atheist, Private Thorazine?" "Sir, no, Sir! Sir, this private is a devout Agnostic, Sir!" "That's what I said, an Atheist? You know what God thinks of Atheists, Private?" "Sir, no, Sir!" "God thinks that Atheists need Jesus PT-ed into them. BEND AND THRUST, PRIVATE!" An actual experience I had during boot....after boot, it just became a mild annoyance...occasionally being forced to go to church (which I realized much later was so officers could have some time off from us...makes sense.)

Don't stand. If anyone asks, give them your explanation. Don't allow yourself to
be bullied, or railroaded. You served to uphold the Constitutional rights of every
citizen, including your own, as has every other veteran.