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This post is not meant to offend anyone, it is not meant to cause an argument, nor is it meant to express a specific religious belief, but instead meant to tell the story about a struggle that is pertinent today to many soldiers and their loved ones. Like Anthony, I tend to avoid discussions about religion the majority of the time, because like Politics, it can become very heated, very quickly. One of the things our troops are fighting to protect, is our rights to freely practice our chosen religion, as stated in the 1st Amendment of the US Constitution. Because this is one of the principles that this country was founded on, I feel that it’s very important that people of ALLfaiths and religions be allowed to practice as they see fit, as long as it doesn’t infringe upon the rights of others, including having the symbol of their religion on their grave stone at the time of their death. I’ve been following this story closely, because of that reason, but also because I have a loved one who practices the Wiccan religion, and is serving in the Military. Initially, the US Department of Veteran’s Affairs did not agree and 11 families of soldiers killed in Iraq and Afghanistan, who were practicing Wiccans, were not allowed to place their religious symbol, the pentacle upon their labout the family of one of those 11 soldiers and their struggle,oved ones grave markers in the VA Cemeteries. This story is which resulted in a law suit to have the symbol below, placed on his grave stone in their local National Cemetery. Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
On September 25, 2005, Sgt. Patrick Stewart died in combat operations in Afghanistan, when his Chinook helicopter was shot down by an RPG. After his death, a huge controversy ensued, when the Department of Veterans Affairs refused to allow his religious symbol, the Wiccan pentacle to be imprinted on his gravestone. When his widow, Robert Stewart questioned this, she was told by VA officials that they only allowed symbols that they have approved to be placed in its cemeteries.
Roberta Stewart was angered and rightly so. She questioned this decision, as Wicca has been a recognized religion in the US Military since 1996 and has been recognized as an official religion in the United States for many years.
She commented at the time, “Remember that all freedoms are worth fighting for.” Mrs. Stewart held an alternate memorial service for her husband with Wiccan clergy officiating, as they were not allowed to be present at the official ceremony. At that time, Mrs. Stewart placed a blue wreath with a white pentacle (the official symbol of Wicca) on her husband’s gravestone, which was blank, except for his name and dates of his birth and his death.
Patrick Stewart wasn’t and isn’t the only Wiccan in the US Military and he isn’t the only one who has died serving his country. Currently thousands of our brave troops, are practicing the Wiccan religion, as is their right. On September 29, 2006, just four days after the one year anniversary of Patrick Stewart’s death, the ACLU filed a law suit against the VA on behalf of 11 families of Wiccan soldiers who had given their lives in defense of their country. (I should make note here, that I rarely agree with the causes that the ACLU undertakes and feel that more times than not, they tend to blow things out of proportion. This time however, I feel that they did the right thing).
Yesterday, it was announced that the VA has now added the Wiccan Pentacle to the list of religious emblems that are allowed in National Cemeteries and on Government-issued headstones. A settlement was reached between the US Department of Veterans Affairs and Wiccans, naming the Pentacle to the list of “emblems of belief” that are allowed on VA grave markers. In the settlement, the VA agrees that the Pentacle, whose 5-pointed star represents earth, air, fire, water and spirit, will be placed on the grave markers within 14 days, for those who have pending requests with the VA. Other details released, said that the VA sought the settlement in the interests of the families involved and to save taxpayers the expense of further litigation, according to VA spokesman Matt Burns.
With the addition of the Pentacle, there are now 39 symbols that the VA permits on grave stones. They include commonly recognized symbols for Christianity, Buddhism, Islam and Judaism, as well as symbols for smaller religions, such as Sufism Reoriented, Eckiankar and the Japanese faith Seicho-No-Ie.
Wicca is a nature-based religion, which is based on respect for the earth, nature and the cycle of the seasons. The Wiccan Pentacle is not to be confused with variations of the symbol that have been used in horror movies and such to represent a sign of the devil, where the symbol is inverted. Those who practice the Wiccan faith, do not recognize those variations. Many of the families who were involved in the lawsuit, are hoping to have the symbols in place on their loved ones graves before Memorial Day.
