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March 22, 2006 - Circle Times Update
In the News: First Amendment & Pentacle for Vets
The quest to have the Pentacle added to the VA list of emblems of belief that can be on markers for deceased veterans continues to make the news.
The Pentacle for Veterans quest is one of today's lead newstories at the First Amendment Center: http://www.firstamendmentcenter.org
News about this Pentacle for Vets issue, "Dying for Freedom," was on The Federal Newsstand of Federal News Radio on March 17.
Interreligious support for this quest also is growing. On March 18 in the Reno Gazette Journal, Rev. Bill Chrystal, a Christian minister and Military chaplain, spoke out for equal treament of religions in his article:
"The United States Government, if it has not already done so, must quickly do one of two things: It must remove all religious symbols from memorial markers or it must accommodate the religious preferences of all people, including Stewart."
The full text of his article
Petitions are now being circulated within the US Military calling for the approval of the Pentacle. At their homecoming on March 18, troops ho served with Sgt. Patrick Stewart a Wiccan and war hero killed in Afghanistan last Fall, were among those signing petitions. His wife, Roberta, continued to speak out for the need to have the Pentacle approved by the VA so that it can be put on memorial markers.
The Las Vegas Journal Review included this in the March 19 article about the homecoming.
Additional links to articles covering the quest for the Pentacle for Veterans are on the Lady Liberty League's Veteran Pentacle page:
http://www.circlesanctuary.org/liberty/veteranpentacle
HOW TO HELP THE PENTACLES FOR VETS QUEST: