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December 21, 2006 - Circle Times Update
Winter Solstice Greetings!Please remember the Veteran Pentacle Quest in your circles, prayers, meditations, and rituals this Yuletide season and in 2007.
ENVISION
the Wiccan Pentacle being included on the US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) list of emblems of belief that can be included on the headstones, markers, and plaques it issues in memory of deceased veterans.
A Yuletide Pentacle Wreath for mediations, rituals, and visualization is now on-line:
http://www.circlesanctuary.org/liberty/veteranpentacle
REMEMBER
It has now been over a year since Wiccan high priest, Circle Sanctuary member, and Korean War veteran Jerome Birnbaum died.
On January 6, 2007, it will be a year since Circle Sanctuary submitted his widow Karen's request for Jerome's veteran memorial marker with Pentacle to the VA.
A cairn of stones and Yuletide greens are what are presently marking the gravesite with Jerome's cremains at Circle Cemetery at Circle Sanctuary Nature Preserve in Wisconsin. A plain flat stone marks the place where his VA markers with Pentacle is to go:
http://www.circlesanctuary.org/liberty/veteranpentacle/jbirnbaumphotos.htm
There is still no VA marker with Pentacle for Jerome and there are none for the other deceased Wiccan veterans interred at public and private cemeteries across the USA, including those listed here:
http://www.circlesanctuary.org/liberty/veteranpentacle/AboutVets.htm
SPEAK OUT
about the need for equal rights for Wiccan and other Pagan veterans and their families -- share your words of support for this on websites, blogs, letters to the editor, articles, emails, and other ways.
A variety of media sources are starting to post today's Associated Press article about the Quest -- "Wiccans push for greater acceptance with grave marker lawsuit"
These media sources include the national newspaper, USA Today:
http://www.usatoday.com/news/religion/2006-12-21-wiccans_x.htm
and the International Herald Tribune out of France, which also carried a related piece summarizing Wiccan beliefs and practices:
http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2006/12/21/america/NA_GEN_US_Wiccan_Awakening_Beliefs.php
View these articles at the various websites where they are posted (use Google News with search word "Wiccan") and rate them well and/or post supportive comments when this option is available.
CELEBRATE
and give thanks that Roberta Stewart and her family finally got a memorial plaque with Pentacle on it to honor the life, service, and sacrifice of her husband Sgt. Patrick Stewart.
More than 75 people, including Pagans from across the country, joined Roberta, Selena Fox, and Chaplain Chrystal in the December 2 Dedication of Sgt. Stewart's plaque with Pentacle at the Wall of Heroes in the Northern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Fernley.
Videos of some of the Dedication are now on-line as well as photos, media links, and texts of some of the remarks of the speakers:
http://www.circlesanctuary.org/liberty/veteranpentacle/dedicationmain.htm
NETWORK
forward this email and/or its links to those you know, to e-lists, websites, blogs, media sources, and elsewhere.
If you are a Pagan veteran and/or on active duty and you have the Pentacle as your emblem of belief and support the Quest to have the VA add it to its list, we invite you to join the Order of the Pentacle. Email:
pentacle@circlesanctuary.org
CONTRIBUTE
donate to the Lady Liberty League fund:
http://www.circlesanctuary.org/donate
Also we invite you to learn about and support Americans United for Separation of Church and State (AU):
AU is providing legal and other help to Circle Sanctuary and others in our two federal lawsuits against the VA.
The Cover story of AU's Church and State magazine this month is "Pentacle Quest"
http://www.au.org/site/News2?page=NewsArticle&id=8760&abbr=cs_
STAY INFORMED
Subscribe to Circle Times, our free, occasional e-bulletin to get updates.
Visit our newly redesigned Veteran Pentacle Quest website for more info:
http://www.circlesanctuary.org/liberty/veteranpentacle
GOOD YULE!
Circle Times: Thursday, December 21, 2006