an article on an earlier post today:



Canadian Press

Saturday, December 02, 2006


RENO, Nev. (AP) - Friends and family of a soldier
killed in Afghanistan will gather Saturday to dedicate
what they call the first U.S. government-issued memorial
plaque
with a Wiccan symbol.
The plaque for Sgt. Patrick Stewart was installed last week on the
Veterans Memorial Wall at the Northern Nevada Veterans Cemetery
in Fernley, about 50 kilometres east of Reno.
Stewart's widow, Roberta, has been fighting to make
the Department of Veterans Affairs allow the Wiccan pentacle
- a five-pointed star enclosed in a circle - for plaques
and headstones at veterans' cemeteries.
VA rules recognize more than 30 symbols, including
more than a dozen variations of the Christian cross
and the atomic whirl used by atheists but not the pentacle.
Wiccans say the pentacle represents earth, air, fire, water and
spirit and some consider themselves good witches, pagans or neo-pagans.
The Nevada Office of Veteran Services, citing its
jurisdiction over maintenance of the state cemetery,
issued the plaque in September.
Last month, Americans United for Separation of Church
and State filed a lawsuit on the Wiccans' behalf claiming
the VA's actions amount to constitutional violations of free
speech, freedom of religion and due process.
VA officials have said they are rewriting rules and procedures
for approving emblems, a process which also requires
a public comment period.
Stewart and four other soldiers died Sept. 25, 2005,
when their Chinook helicopter was shot down in Afghanistan.

© The Canadian Press 2006



i credit the blogging community as well for the righting of this wrong.