“Shame on the Department of Veterans' Affairs or any other government entity that rejects a spiritual belief, Wiccan or otherwise.

Sgt. Patrick Stewart gave the ultimate sacrifice for his country and fellow man. That there is even the slightest hesitation in allowing his widow to place their religious symbol on the military memorial wall, as other religions are allowed, smacks of discrimination and insult.

I wonder what the yard stick looks like that the government uses to measure the validity of a persons spirituality.”

 

 On Friday, April 07, 2006, the Sparks Tribune newspaper included a follow-up report, an interview with Roberta Stewart along with a photo of her at the place on the Nevada Veterans Memorial where her late husband's plaque will go once the VA has approved the Pentacle and manufactured the plaque.  This article also included comments by Selena Fox of Circle Sanctuary.  At the beginning of April Selena traveled to the HQ of the Department of Veterans Affairs in Washington, DC and met with several VA officials involved in the approval process for emblems of belief.  The meeting was held in the meeting room of the Under Secretary for Memorial Affairs of the National Cemetery Administration.  On April 6 Selena learned that VA officials are actively considering adding the Pentacle to the NCA list of emblems of beliefs and a decision is expected soon.

 

 Officers of Avalon supports efforts to have Pagan symbols on Pagan veteran’s headstones.  For more information about the Pentacle for Vets quest, visit:  http://www.circlesanctuary.org/liberty/veteranpentacle

Pentacles, cont.

e-mail:  webmaster@officersofavalon.com

To contact us:
Text Box: “I would hope when I pass away that both my status as a vet and my religious belief would be on my marker.” Scott Stearns, who medically retired from the Navy after a diagnosis of leukemia in 1996. Stearns a Wiccan who lives in Kent, WA, works at the Seattle office of the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Sgt. Stewart’s coffin in transit to the US.

Scott Stearns, Wiccan and US Navy veteran.

 

Credit: Grant M. Haller/Seattle Post-Intelligencer