A retired U.S. Army veteran, was suspended without pay from his job just before Veterans Day for including the phrase “God Bless America” under his company email signature.
According to Hawks, who has worked at Dameron Hospital in Stockton, Calif., for 10 years, he complied with his supervisors’ request that he stop using the religious phrase as one of the quotes under his email signature, but informed them that he would also seek legal counsel about the situation.
“I believe in America and I believe in God so strongly, and I believe that America needs the blessing.” Hawks told KCRA-TV last week.
Upon his return to the office the next day, Hawks found that both his computer password and locker combination had been changed, and that he was subsequently suspended for two days without pay.
Hawks said his supervisors told him he “was going to be put on administrative leave, immediately…”
The Pacific Justice Institute, an organization that defends citizens’ civil rights and religious freedoms, is representing Hawks and sent a letter to Dameron Hospital administration last week, seeking an apology for the 20 year Army veteran.
