Veteran Pentacle Quest in DC & Media Update
Roberta Stewart and Rev. Selena Fox of Circle Sanctuary spoke at a religious freedom rally in Washington, DC on the 4th of July. More than 300 people, including Pagans from 17 states, attended the rally, held in Farragut Square Park, located near the White House and the headquarters of the US Department of Veterans Affairs. The rally included a variety of speakers and musicians. Some photos of this rally are now on-line at the newly created rally page and more photos will be posted this week:
http://www.circlesanctuary.org/liberty/veteranpentacle/dcrally/index.htm

On Wednesday, July 5, Roberta and Selena went to Capitol Hill and met with a legislative aide in Senator Harry Reid's office. The aide then accompanied them to VA headquarters where they met with Under Secretary for Memorial Affairs William Tuerk and two other VA officials. The Under Secretary, who is head of the National Cemetery Administration (NCA) which maintains the VA's list of authorized emblems of belief for memorial markers for veterans, told them that the VA is not approving any emblem of belief addition requests at this time because the VA procedures adopted in October 2005 for adding emblems of belief to the NCA list were not adopted correctly. The Under Secretary still would give no timeline for the completion of this latest "revising the rules" process. Both Selena and Roberta urged him to add the Pentacle to the NCA list under previous protocols while the VA sorts out its procedural mistakes.

The Pentacle Quest continues to make news.

An article appeared on the top of the second page of the Washington Post on July 4 and is now being published by other media. Associated Press and United Press International articles have been and are being picked up by media sources across the USA and several other countries.

On July 5, Roberta and Selena appeared on the evening news on the ABC television affiliate in Washington, DC.

The July 7 radio broadcast of Roberta and Selena on Barry Lynn's Culture Shocks program is now archived on-line (show # 722) -- listen to it at: http://www.cultureshocks.com

CNN television interviewed Roberta and Selena while they were in Washington, DC -- the story is presently scheduled to air tomorrow (Monday, July 10) on the American Morning Show (6 - 10 am EDT)

More media coverage is in the works for this week.

Your continued support for this Veteran Pentacle Quest is needed and appreciated.

HOW YOU CAN HELP:

1. SPEAK OUT: Monitor media coverage of the Pentacle Quest. Write letters to the editor and to blog sites --express your support for the Pentacle being added to the NCA list, call the VA to uphold religious freedom, and express appreciation for good media coverage. Write words of support in comments sections, which accompany news reports on-line, such as following the article in the Sacramento Bee:
   http://www.sacbee.com/content/lifestyle/v-print/story/14275816p-15085367c.html
2. ALLIES: The Quest needs more Allies ... religious leaders of other religions, veterans organizations, Senators & Congresspeople, religious freedom activists, and others. Please contact possible allies you know -- give them information about this Quest, ask them to write letters of support to the VA & media, and let us know about your efforts -- email: liberty@circlesanctuary.org or fax copies of letters sent to us: (608) 924-5961.
3. DONATE: Send donations to Circle Sanctuary to help defray travel costs and other expenses incurred in the Quest. You can donate on-line: http://www.circlesanctuary.org/donate/
   or send to: Veteran Pentacle Quest Fund, Lady Liberty League, Circle Sanctuary, PO Box 9, Barneveld, WI 53507 USA.
   Donations are tax deductible in the USA. Make checks payable to Circle Sanctuary - Lady Liberty League.
4. RITUALS: Please send blessings of strength and support to Roberta and Selena and others working with them on this Quest. Envision success for the Veteran Pentacle Quest. Join with others in invoking the Goddess Liberty (Libertas) and other Divine forces for success and support at this Full Moon time and in the time ahead. More info about Libertas and how to work with Her is on-line:
   http://www.circlesanctuary.org/circle/articles/pantheon/GoddessFreedom.html
5. NETWORK: Tell others about this Quest and encourage them to help. Post the URL for our Veteran Pentacle website to lists and websites (http://www.circlesanctuary.org/liberty/veteranpentacle). Forward this email on to others.