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Page: Profile: Wren's Nest News Local
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Article: 17859
[Pagan]
Date Posted:
5/10/2007
9:13:41 am EDT
Wvox Stats
Views: 11,088
RSS: 18,377
Comments: 19
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Veteran Affairs OKs Pentacle For Pagans' Graves
Author: Sheri Baker-Rickman Source: KC Community News (KS)
Title: VETERAN AFFAIRS OKS PENTACLE FOR PAGANS' GRAVES
Ten years and a lawsuit later, Veterans Affairs agreed to allow followers of Pagan faiths like Wicca, better known as witchcraft, to place pentacles – a five-pointed star within a circle – on their grave markers.
Only VA-approved symbols of faith can be placed on the grave markers of veterans buried on government land.
The April 20 agreement reads, “VA will provide a headstone, marker or memorial plaque … for Sgt. Patrick Stewart … and any other eligible individuals…”
The agreement is retroactive and will grant interred veterans a pentacle.
“While I feel that this was not something that should have been an issue in the first place, it is obviously wonderful news,” Pagan Cheryl Locke, Kansas City, Mo., said. “There were many tears of joy from Wiccan veterans and their families.”
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Community Thoughts: There are 19 comments posted | Reverse Sort |
| For Right Now, We Celebrate | May 11th. at 10:52:36 pm EDT
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Aidan Odinson (Collingdale, Pennsylvania) - Email Me - Web
And we can see how much we can celebrate!
Not only the quest itself, but look at the article. Pagan is capitalized, and our clergy appear to have the same level of respect as the rest of the clergy. At least in this article.
There's more to be done, and I agree that one issue is the basic fact that the VA does not have the authority to "license" or "recognize" any form of religion or spiritual path. No government agency has that right. There might be some practical considerations which need to be dealt with - like what if everybody wants a slightly different symbol? But the First Ammendment is also supposed to apply to the government, or so I was told.
And the rest of the country has learned that we aren't going to go away, and we won't be ignored.
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| The Next Step... | May 11th. at 10:17:54 pm EDT
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Isaac Bonewits (Valley Cottage, New York) - Email Me - Web
...will be for Pagans to join with non-Pagans to sue the VA to remove their unconstitutional "authority" to approve any religious emblem at all. The very idea violates the separation between church and state.
Meanwhile, congrats to Charles Arnold, Pete Pathfinder, Selena Fox, and the wonderful folks at Americans United for Separation of Church and State, for a job well done!
Find More info -- HERE
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| Hmm | May 11th. at 1:58:27 pm EDT
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Ravenowl (Amboy, Oklahoma) - Email Me
everytime I read this type of article it just reminds me in my daily life that ... the pentagram in all its forms.. well simply are everywhere.. where I work has them on are steam stacks.. the water processing plant close to us also has a pentagram. Its amazing to me that these symbols have been there for so long and no one noticed?
I could make a list of all the places within 50 miles of here.. but that would take ages... its everywhere you look. From buildings to signs to whatever.. its everywhere.. and what boggles my mind is well this is the middle of the bible belt
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| Penticle For War | May 11th. at 12:16:44 am EDT
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Bluemax (Nelson, New Zealand) - Email Me
im happy for all americans who feel that a pentigram on the headstones of soilders fallen in an unjust war is good, to ,me the penticle is a female symbol, which denotes peace and understanding and the upright man or woman to make this just another symbol feels a little strange but go for it.
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| Penticle For War | May 11th. at 12:16:43 am EDT
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Bluemax (Nelson, New Zealand) - Email Me
im happy for all americans who feel that a pentigram on the headstones of soilders fallen in an unjust war is good, to ,me the penticle is a female symbol, which denotes peace and understanding and the upright man or woman to make this just another symbol feels a little strange but go for it.
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| ... | May 10th. at 8:24:07 pm EDT
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Draken (Bronx, New York) - Email Me - Web
Wow...they capitalized the word "Pagan." I'm impressed.
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| This Is Wonderful | May 10th. at 6:55:50 pm EDT
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Medea (Somewhere, Massachusetts) - Email Me
And long overdue.
Thanks and grattitude to the leaders and Elders who worked so dilligently on behalf of the brave Pagan American warriors who fell in battle. The Pagan faiths deserve recognition. We are not some "weird fringe group", and we are not going away. I would like to see the Asatruar and Druid folk have their symbols approved as well, although that may be a continuing "discussion" with the VA.
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| More Than Just Circles And Stars... | May 10th. at 5:36:25 pm EDT
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ZenKat (Las Vegas, Kentucky) - Email Me
We have Stars and Stripes on our flag. We have a pyramid with an eye on our money. The U.S. Armed Services uses an eagle with out-stretched wings and sharp focused eyes. Christians have a Crucifix, Jews use The Star of David, and Pagans... have a circle with a star in it...
A full circle embodiment of the five elements that surround every soldier's source of courage, valor, strength, honor, and Faith. I'm not saying every single soldier is Pagan- good graces- gods, no! What I AM saying is this:
The star means something. We see it everywhere! On our flag, in other religions, as a sign of rank and respect, and as a compass point when we're lost.
Soldiers all over the world can look up into the night sky and "know" that they have a point of light to feel or find home by.
We make circles when we hold hands, when we want to include something or someone, and when we hug each other.
The pentacle IS all of those things- for the soldiers who hold onto that... they should be allowed to be remembered by that symbol.
It's a relief to know that Pagans can have their own Faiths 'set in stone'... carvings of their own "points of light" to assure that all is not lost- and they definitely didn't fall in vain of their country
Many blessings to the hard work and unnerring Faith of those who made this possible!
Brightest Blessings,
ZenKat
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| Great News, But... | May 10th. at 12:15:48 pm EDT
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Mothrae (Gouldsboro, Pennsylvania) - Email Me
Please don't get your hopes up too high expecting immediate delivery of pentacle grave markers. It normally takes up to two years to get one made and delivered, even with a minimum of red tape. I've been involved in the cemetery business and this is normal, people have to wait. Remember, this is the VA we're dealing with! Don't expect them to speed things up anytime soon.
Still, as a Wiccan Desert Storm vet and recipient of the Purple Heart, this is great news to me.
Beannacht leat!
"Sarge" Moth
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| Blessed Be! | May 10th. at 11:56:29 am EDT
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Celly Kobal (Indianapolis, Colorado) - Email Me
As a member of the US military I am so happy that the VA finally let us be recognized. There are so many Pagans in the military that are fighting every day for the freedom that we all have in this country. We did it happily without the chance of having our marker, but it puts me at ease knowing that if I were to die for this country I could be laid to rest under a pentacle.
Thank you for all that fought for this cause. It means a lot to us. May the Lord and Lady bless you all for your efforts.
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