Witch Willows WanderingsWill You Honor the Fallen?
November 3rd 2006 03:09
Why Won’t the VA Honor this Soldier?
This story has been going on for over a year now. Sgt. Patrick D. Stewart, of Fernley, Nevada was killed in the southwest area of Deh Chopan, Afghanistan on September 25th of 2005, when his CH-47 Chinook helicopter crashed. He was a soldier in the Army National Guard, and also a Wiccan. At the age of 35, he left his wife and other loved ones behind while serving his country. However, he was not able to rest in peace until a year later. Why is this? Because the Veterans Association in the U.S does not have an emblem for Wiccans to place on their Markers. However, they do have 38 other different religious symbols for this use, one of which they provide for Atheists. So why doesn’t the VA just add the Wiccan symbol, since the government does see Wicca as an actual religion? Well, that is the BIG question. Nobody really seems to know the answer. Some representatives have stated that it is solely because there is not a particular “address” for the Wiccan religion to be based from, so they cannot allow the symbol. However, Circle Sanctuary meets the “criteria” to get the symbol added, and yet nothing has been done still.
Here is the link to look through the symbols first hand:
VA Burial Symbols
VA Burial Symbols
Well, finally in September of this year, the state of Nevada actually stepped in and allowed the Wiccan symbol to be placed on Sgt. Stewart’s area of the memorial wall. Apparently they found that federal authorities have no jurisdiction over state cemeteries, so the Governor and State Attorney General allowed the symbol to be placed. Kudos to the state of Nevada for stepping up. Unfortunately, the government has still to allow the symbol to be the 39th emblem for fallen soldiers. Apparently they are dragging their feet and there is tons of “red tape” to fight through. So when will they just stop and allow it to happen? Apparently it has been fought against for the past 9 years and there is still no light in sight for an end. So what can be done to help this along? Visit Circle Sanctuary’s website, which is filled with tons of information, and see what you can do to help. Let’s not have another fallen soldier be put through this same ordeal!
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Blessed Be
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Comment by Wendi
Wendi
Comment by Miss Faith
The Truth about non-Christian Religions
Who Pee'd in My Cauldron?
the Orble main page, and here is the url: New Update on Va and the Wiccans
Comment by Wendi