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Ms. Patricia Covington
Director
Congressional Liaison Services
US Department of Veterans Affairs
B-328 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
VIA FACSIMILE TRANSMISSION
Dear Ms. Covington,
I am writing on behalf of the Reverend Selena Fox, Senior Minister, Circle Sanctuary, located in the greater Madison, Wisconsin area and one of America’s oldest and largest Wiccan churches. Many church members are my constituents.
As I understand it, for approximately nine years, Rev. Fox has been part of a quest to have the US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) add the Pentacle, the Wiccan emblem of belief, to the National Cemetery Administration’s (NCA) list of emblems of belief that are authorized for VA-issued headstones, markers and plaques for deceased veterans. During those nine years, it is my understanding that at least eight emblems of other religions have been added to the authorized list. In fact, Rev. Fox has provided me with documentation that a request by the American Gurudware Parbandhak Committee (AGPC) to add the Sikh religion’s emblem to the permanent list of available emblems of belief was approved by the VA in the summer of 2004 only weeks after the request was filed.
The Rev. Fox informed me that she appreciated two lengthy face-to-face meetings (March 29, 2006 and July 5, 2006) and an April 17, 2006 phone meeting with VA Undersecretary William Tuerk to discuss efforts to add the Pentacle to the VA permanent list of approved emblems. It is my understanding that Undersecretary Tuerk explained to Rev. Fox that the VA is in the process of reviewing and revising procedures to add religious emblems to the NCA permanent list.
I am writing today to alert you of my on-going interest in this serious matter and to request an update on the VA’s efforts to review and revise the procedures and guidelines to add emblems to the NAC permanent list.
Specifically,
Sincerely,
Tammy Baldwin
Member of Congress
TB:ct
cc: Rev. Selena Fox