Fallen Officers, Fallen Friends

Officers of Avalon Aids an Injured Officer

On June 15, 2006, Deputy Russell Varmall, a SWAT team officer of the Jefferson Parish Sheriff Office (JPSO) in Louisiana, was wounded as he and his team approached the home of a mentally disturbed individual. A 7.62 armor piercing round passed through the ballistic shield Deputy Varmall was carrying, causing a massive wound to his upper left arm. The round then struck his partner’s vest, knocking the wind out of him and causing only bruising. Thank the Gods for body armor.

Deputy Varmall recently returned to work, but his restricted to light duties and his rehabilitation is expected to be a lengthy process. Deputy Varmall can’t work paid details or overtime, which is what most officers survive on. He has two young children.

Lt. Gilbert Rieth of the JPSO Crisis Intervention Unit sent Officers of Avalon an e-mail requesting assistance for Deputy Varmall. Lt. Rieth is married to Velvet Rieth, a Wiccan priestess with the ATC in New Orleans who was instrumental in our Avalon Cares relief efforts following the hurricane disasters in Louisiana. Officers of Avalon has sent a $250 cheque to Deputy Varmall to help him make it through the Yule season. We encourage anyone who wishes to make donations to assist Deputy Varmall to send them along to Officers of Avalon.

Fallen Officers, Fallen Friends

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A 7.62 armor piercing round passed through the ballistic shield Deputy Varmall was carrying, causing a massive wound to his upper left arm.

Historic Dedication Ceremony
First Wiccan Pentacle in Veterans Memorial

On Saturday, December 2, 2006, Pagans assembled at the Northern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Fernley, Nevada, to honor Wiccan War Hero, Sgt. Patrick Stewart. A plaque bearing a Pentacle commemorating Stewart was a one time gift from the State of Nevada and Nevada Governor Kenny Guinn. This plaque, placed on the "Wall of Heroes", is the first government-issued veteran memorial plaque in the history of the United States to include the Wiccan emblem of belief, the Pentacle.

The multicultural, interfaith dedication ceremony included thanksgivings and blessings in Wiccan, Christian, Jewish, and Native American traditions. Wiccan leaders, veterans, and others came from across the United States to attend this historic event and to honor the life, service, and
sacrifice of Sgt. Patrick Stewart, who was killed in action in Afghanistan, in September 2005. Speakers included: Roberta Stewart (widow of Sgt. Patrick Stewart), Rev. Selena Fox (Senior Minister of Circle Sanctuary), Rev. William Chrystal (Pastor of the First Congregational Church of Reno), Mato Witko (Comanche-Irish, Pipecarrier, Sundancer, Intertribal Sweatlodge Leader), Rev. Patrick McCollum (American Academy of Religion Chaplaincy Liaison), Jill Medicine Heart Combs (National Board Member, Covenant of Unitarian Universalist Pagans Continental and Pagan Pride Project International), and Paula Johnson (Lady Liberty League Media Relations Coordinator and National Interfaith Representative for Covenant of the Goddess and others.) The Dedication included the reading of a statement by Rev. Barry Lynn, Executive Director of Americans United for Separation of Church and State.

Click on the banner above to go to the Stars of Freedom Pagan Military Memorial web site

Dispatches: Volume 1 No. 7 Yule/Alban Arthan/Mean Geimhridh/La Ceimbroadh 2006