It’s never been more important to acknowledge nonreligious and non-Christian veterans — including the proverbial “atheists in foxholes” — given the Pentagon’s recent attacks on the constitutional separation between religion and government.

Journalist Ernie Pyle regrettably promulgated the myth during World War II that “there are no atheists in foxholes.” In actuality, more than 20 percent of FFRF’s 42,000 members are veterans, and a quarter of active duty military identify as nonreligious or “no religious preference.” Nonreligious military and vets historically have gone unacknowledged or subjected to proselytizing.

That situation has grown worse recently, as the Pentagon becomes infused with religion and Christian nationalism under “Secretary of War” Pete Hegseth’s misdirection. Hegseth hosted an evangelical prayer service during the middle of the workday at the Pentagon in May, called the “Secretary of Defense Christian Prayer and Worship Service.” Hegseth said at that event that “this is precisely where I need to be, exactly where we need to be as a nation, at this moment in prayer, on bended knee, recognizing the providence of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.”

Following the assassination of Charlie Kirk, Hegseth, on his official “X” site, published a prayer and video of himself reciting the Lord’s Prayer. At the memorial for Kirk, Hegseth declared that the United States is in a “spiritual war.” He urged viewers to “put Christ at the center of your life.”

Religion News Service reports that the Department of Defense has featured at least three videos with faith themes, including one quoting from the bible, captioned, “We are One Nation Under God.” Pentagon Press Secretary Kingsley Wilson told the news agency that the videos exemplify Hegseth’s efforts to celebrate the country’s Christian roots “despite the Left’s efforts to remove our Christian heritage from our great nation,” adding that “Secretary Hegseth is among those who embrace it.”

FFRF’s unique monument is made of the same granite as Mount Rushmore. It serves as a testament to the U.S. military’s diversity in the face of Hegseth’s theocratic propaganda. It is found in FFRF’s Rose Zerwick Memorial Courtyard and Patio outside Freethought Hall, FFRF’s bustling office building in downtown Madison, Wis. (World War II veteran Joseph Cunningham, a nonagenarian longtime FFRF member and former Board member, is pictured in front of the monument.)

Veterans, their families and active duty freethinkers are cordially invited to come visit and contemplate FFRF’s “Atheists in Foxholes” monument, which honors freethinking veterans and their service.

The words, penned by FFRF principal founder Anne Nicol Gaylor, read:

In Memory of
Atheists in Foxholes
And the countless freethinkers who have served this country with honor and distinction.
Presented by the Freedom From Religion Foundation with hope that in the future humankind may learn to avoid all war.

The Freedom From Religion Foundation is a U.S.-based nonprofit dedicated to promoting the constitutional principle of separation between state and church and educating the public on matters of nontheism. With about 42,000 members, FFRF advocates for freethinkers’ rights across the globe. For more information, visit ffrf.org.

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