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March 26, 2006 - Circle Times Update
Religious Freedom & Pentacle for Vets
The media is continuing to report on the religious freedom dimensions of the quest to get the Pentacle added to the VA list of emblems of belief that can be on markers for deceased vets.
NATIONAL PRESS
The latest article in the national press is one by the Pentagon reporter of the Scripps Howard News Service:
Feds weigh allowing Wiccan symbols on government issued grave makers
Published on March 23, it highlights the late Rosemary Kooiman's efforts to get the Pentacle approved by the VA so that it can be inscribed on the headstone of her deceased husband, Abraham (Abe) Kooiman, a decorated World War II veteran. His headstone is in Arlington Cemetery, the largest and best known national veterans cemetery in the US. Rosemary was founder and High Priestess of the Wiccan group, Nomadic Chantry of the Gramarye, headquartered in Maryland.
In reporting on efforts get the Pentacle approved by the VA, the article includes a question on the mind of many Pagans:
"Why then, they ask, has their religion been snubbed when more than 30 others, including such relatively obscure ones as Seicho-No-le, Eckankar, Sufism and Humanism, are permitted?"
This article also quotes Rev. Selena Fox of Circle Sanctuary speaking about the need for the Pentacle on markers for deceased Pagan veterans who had it as their emblem of belief:
"These people served their country. Isn't American about freedom of religion? They fought for that freedom."
NEVADA PRESS EDITORIAL
In their March 16 editorial, the Lahontan Valley News and Fallon Eagle Standard, Nevada newspapers, point out religious freedom concerns regarding the failure of the VA to approve the Pentacle thus far:
"This is obviously religious discrimination, and we predict it is only a matter of time before the courts reverse the VA's position, if the agency does not see the light on its own accord. Religious freedom, of course, is one of the most fundamental and cherished principles guaranteed citizens of the United States."
The full text of this editorial is on-line.
LETTER TO SECRETARY OF VA
It has now been nearly a year since Circle Sanctuary submitted its first request to the VA to have the Pentacle added to its NCA list of emblems of belief for veteran markers. It has been nearly three months since Circle Sanctuary reapplied under the new procedures. It has been nearly a decade, since various Wiccan churches began asking the VA to approve the Pentacle.
In hopes of expediting the Pentacle approval process, Rev. Selena Fox wrote to the Secretary of the US Department of Veterans Affairs.
She concludes her March 24 letter with an excerpt from President Bush's 2005 Religious Freedom Day proclamation.
The text of Selena's letter is on-line:
HOW TO HELP THE PENTACLES FOR VETS QUEST: