The verse, which isn't even on the medallion, simply reads, "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends."

The chief of the Army's Casualty Operations Division, Lt. Col. Kevin Logan, wrote to Fallen Friend President Bob Parker in an e-mail yesterday: "Upon further evaluation, it has been determined that while there is a Biblical reference on the medallion, this reference is not of such nature that it is likely to be offensive to most next of kin. I am sincerely sorry for any inconvenience our earlier decision made on you and your organization."

Parker expressed gratitude to all those who had bombarded the Army with letters and e-mails.

"This is what makes America beautiful," he told the Associated Press from his home in Clairfield, Tenn. "If people hadn't gotten involved, the Army wouldn't have changed its mind."

Editor's note: