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My name is Karen DePolito. I have been a practicing Wiccan priestess for over twenty years. Most of that time I was married to my high priest and magickal partner, Jerome Birnbaum, a U.S. Army veteran of the Korean War. Although his time in the service was, by his account, difficult, I believe he loved his country and was proud to have worked in its defense.
Jerome and I were active in New York City's Pagan community from 1987 until 2002, when he retired from teaching high school. We left New York and traveled around the country for the next two years, finally settling in Utah, where Jerome could be near his family.
On November 17, 2005, Jerome died after struggling the last several years with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). One of the first people I contacted after his passing was Selena Fox of Circle Sanctuary. She told me of her efforts getting the Department of Veterans Affairs to approve the Pentacle on Wiccan veterans' headstones. Selena asked me if I'd want to apply for such a marker. I agreed, got the necessary papers together, filled out the form, and sent everything to Selena. She did the rest, for which I am most thankful.
That was in January of this year. It is now December. For whatever reasons, the VA continues to delay on the requests of myself, Roberta Stewart and others. Meanwhile, other’ perhaps more obscure, religious groups have had their own symbols approved with no trouble.
Today I congratulate the State of Nevada for installing Sgt. Patrick Stewart's plaque, and honoring him the way he would have wished. And I am thankful that Roberta Stewart no longer has to stare at an unmarked grave.
But you must excuse me if my own joy today is somewhat muted. For my husband's remains are long in the ground, without the VA-sanctioned marker he is entitled to. Our efforts to obtain that marker have led us to file suit against the VA in federal court, a situation nobody really wanted, but there you go.
I am confident that in the end, the VA will grant us what we seek. But I dare not speculate on when or how that will happen.
My infinite thanks go out to Selena, Roberta, Americans United, and all others who have labored in this matter. And to our administration in Washington, I say: May the Lord and Lady grant you good health, and good sense!