Man Must Be Rehired

Brig. Gen. William C. Doyle Veterans' Memorial Cemetery in Burlington County has been ordered to rehire an honor guardsman fired over religious blessings he offered at funerals.

Col.l Maria Morgan of the New Jersey's Veterans Affairs department on Friday ordered Patrick Cubbage be reinstated.

The 54-year-old Vietnam veteran and evangelical Christian recited, "God bless you and this family, and God bless the United States of America," as he presented flags to Army veterans' families.

He was fired for deviating from protocol.

But Cubbage argued the protocol called for the blessing whenever a family expressed a religious preference.

The Virginia-based Rutherford Institute, which is representing the Philadelphian, said reinstatement doesn't address compensation for the months Cubbage couldn't find another job.

Author: NBC 10/AP