Hundreds of flag-waving demonstrators converged on Houston National Cemetery on Independence Day to protest reports of religious censorship at burial services there.

"We felt it was one of the best ways we could have spent this time of the Fourth of July," said Marine veteran Steve Cranston, a 58-year-old pastor from Houston who attended the protest with his wife, Judy, 66. "We feel like it's our duty."

"And I believe the ones who are already buried here would be right with us," his wife said.

The Houston Area Pastor Council planned Monday's protest in support of a federal lawsuit filed by the nonprofit Liberty Institute on behalf of American Legion Post 586, Veterans of Foreign Wars District 4, and National Memorial Ladies, a volunteer group that attends burials at the cemetery.

The suit accuses U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs officials and Houston National Cemetery director Arleen Ocasio of banning members of these groups from invoking the names of "God" or "Jesus" at burials, and forbidding the recitation of religious messages unless the deceased's family submits the text to her for approval.

Ocasio has not responded to requests for comment. Other VA officials, however, say the names of God and Jesus are not only allowed during interments, they are freely spoken at national cemeteries across the country.

"We cherish the religious freedoms our Veterans secured for us," Steve Muro, VA's Under Secretary for Memorial Affairs, said in a statement published online Friday. "At all VA national cemeteries, families are free to choose and use the burial rites and rituals that are meaningful or sacred to them. ... Families are equally free to have a service without religious references."

Bikers, vets and moms

Such reassurances did little to assuage the anger of protesters clad in red, white and blue who rallied Monday in the Hemicycle, a large, circular memorial at the heart of the cemetery. Bikers in leather jackets stood shoulder-to-shoulder with women in tea party T-shirts, and veterans in combat fatigues. They sang God Bless America, waved Bibles and flags over their heads, shouted God bless yous and prayed.

"Thank God Ocasio and Obama don't write the Constitution," read one woman's sign. "Just wish they would READ it!!!"

"Take back America!" read another sign.

The crowd booed every mention of Ocasio's name as they listened to preachers and lawmakers deliver speeches from a generator-powered public address system.

Crowd chants

"The director of this cemetery, since she got here about a year ago, has engaged in systematic oppression of religious speech on this ground," said Dave Welch, executive director of the Houston Area Pastor Council.

Welch said the strong turnout demonstrates to veterans' groups and volunteers who attend burials at the cemetery that they're not alone.

"They're not going to fight this battle by themselves," he said. "We're here to tell them that you are not, on our watch, going to tell them that they can't invoke the names of God or Jesus Christ."

Paul Bettencourt, former Harris County Tax Assessor-Collector, led a chant calling for Ocasio's resignation. He urged the crowd to shout loud enough to reach the ears of Eric Shinseki, Secretary of Veterans Affairs, in Washington D.C.

'We want a new director!' protesters shouted.

"What is it if you can't say the word God at a national cemetery?" Bettencourt asked.

"Tyranny!" the crowd roared.

U.S. Rep. Pete Olson, R-Sugar Land, told protesters he was furious.

"I apologize," Olson said. "Outraged is the only word I can think of to say because as a Navy veteran, all sorts of words are coming to my mind right now."

The congressman was among several lawmakers who spoke at the protest Monday, including U.S. Rep. Ted Poe, R-Humble, state Rep. Allen Fletcher, R-Tomball, state Rep. Debbie Riddle, R-Tomball, and Harris County Clerk Stan Stanart.

'Slap in the face'

After the protest, Vietnam veteran Jim German recuperated from the blazing heat in a patch of shade at the edge of the Hemicycle.

"I have a lot of friends who are buried out here, and who paid the ultimate price," said the 63-year-old retired Continental pilot. "To have the director of this facility try to censor religious speech, to censor the name of God, is a slap in the face to not only every American who believes in God, but it's a slap in the face to every veteran who fought for our freedom."

lindsay.wise@chron.com