|
|
Join in this worldwide spiritual support vigil for the Veteran Pentacle Quest on the one-year anniversary of the death of Sgt. Patrick Stewart, the first Wiccan to be killed in the War on Terror in Afghanistan.
On Monday, September 25 at 7 pm in your local area, kindle at least three candles as Lights of Liberty.
REMEMBRANCE: Kindle a candle of Remembrance to honor Sgt. Stewart and the 4 other soldiers of the 113th Aviation, D Company Mustangs, who were killed in action on September 25, 2005 when their Chinook helicopter was shot down by enemy fire in Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. Remember and honor their service and sacrifice in the name of Freedom.
THANKSGIVING: Kindle a candle of Thanksgiving to celebrate that the State of Nevada officials took action last week and ordered a plaque with a Pentacle to honor Sgt. Stewart and his religious orientation in the same fashion as those of other religions who have been honored by the US Department of Veterans Affairs, which still has failed to do this for Wiccan veterans.
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM: Kindle a candle of Religious Freedom to bring a successful conclusion to the quest to have the US Department of Veterans Affairs add the Pentacle to its list of emblems of belief that can be included on the memorial markers, headstones, and plaques they produce to honor deceased veterans. Call for religious freedom for all.
After kindling the candles, meditatively send support to those who are working for equal rights for Wiccan veterans and their families in this Quest, including Circle Sanctuary, Lady Liberty League, Aquarian Tabernacle Church, Covenant of the Goddess, Correllian Nativist Church, Nomadic Chantry of the Gramarye, Sacred Well Congregation, Isis Invicta Military Mission, Military Pagan Network, Americans United for Separation of Church and State, American Civil Liberties Union, and others.
Call on Lady Liberty and Lady Justice to aid this Veteran Pentacle Quest and to bring victory.
VIGIL IN FERNLEY, NEVADA
Rev. Selena Fox, senior minister of Circle Sanctuary, will be facilitating a Lights of Liberty Candlelight Vigil at the Northern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Fernley, Nevada from 7- 8 pm on Monday, September 25. Joining her will be Sgt. Stewart's widow, Roberta, and Rev. William Chrystal, the US military chaplain who has been providing support to her and her family since Sgt. Stewart's death last year. The vigil will be held at the Wall of Heroes where Sgt. Stewart's plaque is to be installed once production is completed.
The Lights of Liberty candlelight vigil in Fernley is open to the public and the media. If you wish to take part, please bring a white votive candle in a votive glass to kindle.
The morning after the Lights of Liberty Candlelight Vigil there will be a rally and press conference in nearby Reno, Nevada:
AMERICAN FREEDOM RALLY
Tuesday, September 26
8 - 8:30 am
Powning Park
Site of the new Veterans Memorial
in Downtown Reno, Nevada
Speakers include
* Roberta Stewart, widow of Sgt. Patrick Stewart
* Rev. William Chrystal, Pastor of the First Congregational Church of Reno, Nevada and retired US Army chaplain
* Rev. Selena Fox, Senior Minister of Circle Sanctuary, Barneveld, Wisconsin
Staff from offices of elected officials who have helped in the Veteran Pentacle Quest also plan to be present.
The Rally will begin with a tribute to Sgt. Patrick Stewart and the 4 other soldiers who were killed in action in Operation Enduring Freedom on September 25, 2005.
This Rally will publicly congratulate the State of Nevada for doing what the US Department of Veterans Affairs has failed to do -- to provide a plaque with Pentacle on it to honor the service and sacrifice of Sgt. Patrick Stewart.
Although Sgt. Stewart will soon get his plaque, the Veteran Pentacle Quest continues. Therefore, this Rally also will issue a public call to the US Department of Veterans Affairs to add the Pentacle to its list of emblems of belief that can be included on the memorial markers, plaques, and headstones it provides for deceased veterans and their families.
At the conclusion of this Rally, Rev. Selena Fox and Roberta Stewart will issue a statement from Americans United for Separation of Church and State, which speaks to the next phase of their efforts in this quest for equal rights for Wiccan veterans and their families. Selena and Roberta will then be available to answer media questions and give interviews.
For more information about the Veteran Pentacle Quest and how to help:
http://www.circlesanctuary.org/liberty/veteranpentacle
Circle Times: Friday, September 22, 2006