WASHINGTON — Navy Secretary Ray Mabus plans to rename the Navy Cross to the Navy Plus award, Duffel Blog has learned.
The change for the nation's second highest award for military valor comes just before the popular service secretary leaves office next year.
Mabus said that the cross, a Christian symbol, could marginalize recipients from other religions. The "plus" sign is more appropriate for today's Navy, he said, since it is emotionally and morally impotent "just like our brave Sailors and Marines."
