On Saturday, December 1, 2007, from 1 - 6 pm, Wiccan leaders from across the nation will gather at a family cemetery near Lexington, North Carolina with family, friends, veterans, and others in honoring Wiccan soldier, PFC Stephen P. Snowberger III, who was killed in action in Iraq on May 11, 2006.
They will conduct a memorial honoring Snowberger's life, service, and sacrifice, and dedicate his memorial gravestone, recently issued by the US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
http://www.circlesanctuary.org/ministries/military/ssstonededication.htm
Snowberger's gravestone, which is inscribed with the pentacle, the Wiccan emblem of belief, is historic. It is among the first pentacle-inscribed gravestones in the nation and the first in North Carolina to be issued by the VA.
To cover this event, contact Rev. Selena Fox, Circle Sanctuary: (608) 334-5923
MORE INFORMATION:
PFC Stephen P. Snowberger III was killed on May 11, 2006 when the HUMVEE he was in was hit by an IED launched by insurgents. The driver, PFC Eric D. Clark of Wisconsin, was also killed. The soldiers and their vehicle were part of a caravan that had been delivering medical supplies to Iraqi civilians. Following their deaths, a series of memorial services was held for both soldiers, who served in the 3rd Battalion, 6th Field Artillery Regiment, 10th Mountain Division of Fort Drum, New York.
Although PFC Eric D. Clark, a Christian, was laid to rest in 2006 shortly after he died, this was not the case for PFC Stephen P. Snowberger III, a Wiccan.
Obtaining a government-issued veteran gravestone with pentacle was not possible in 2006 following Snowberger's death because the VA, despite nearly a decade of efforts by Wiccan churches, had not yet added the pentacle to its list of emblems of belief authorized to be included on the grave markers it issues to honor deceased veterans.
The Wiccan religion is a pre-Christian Nature religion, which honors the cycles of the seasons and moons, and is similar in many respects to Native American traditional religions.
The VA finally added the pentacle to its list of emblems of belief approved for use on veteran gravestones on April 23, 2007 (http://www.circlesanctuary.org/liberty/veteranpentacel). The VA did so as part of its settlement of a federal lawsuit brought in the US District Court of the Western Wisconsin District by the Washington, DC-based Americans United for Separation of Church and State (http://www.au.org) representing Circle Sanctuary (http://www.circlesanctuary.org), an international Wiccan church, and some of its military families.
Snowberger's cremains have been interred in the private family cemetery at the rural home of his mother, Deborah Brown, near Lexington. His mother and other family members are relieved that, at last, they can mark Stephen's final resting place with the government-issued marker that was due him.
Rev. Selena Fox, senior minister of Circle Sanctuary in Wisconsin, is among the Wiccan clergy conducting the service. She served as a liaison between the VA and Snowberger's family in applying for and obtaining the pentacle-inscribed marker. Rev. Fox: "I am thankful that this marker has been issued and that Stevie can finally be properly honored with a gravesite memorial."
Barry Lynn, Executive Director of Americans United for Separation of Church and State: "Stephen P. Snowberger served his country honorably and it is fitting that his country remembers him with a memorial that properly recognizes his sacrifice for this nation and his deeply held religious beliefs."
In Iraq, Snowberger was a member of the Victory Base Open Circle, sponsored by the Sacred Well Congregation (http://www.sacredwell.org) , an international Wiccan church whose American headquarters are in Texas. Sacred Well Congregation's Rev. David Oringderff, Ph.D., of Arizona, International Executive Council Executive Agent; Rev. Marci Drewry of Virginia, Director of Military Affairs; and Christine Aherns, DFGL of the Bragg-Ope Open Circle at Fort Bragg will be among the officiating clergy at the dedication ceremony.
Leaders and members of other Wiccan, Celtic, and Nature Spirituality (Pagan) churches and organizations will also help with the service. These include the national Cherry Hill Seminary (Vermont), House of Akasha (North Carolina), Clann Caladvlwch (North Carolina), Path of the Moon Collective (North Carolina), Sylvan Hearth Pagan Temple (South Carolina), Gaia's Rising Covenenat of Unitarian Universalist Pagans (South Carolina), and others.
The interfaith service, which will include military honors, readings, eulogy, music, cemetery and gravestone consecration, and the placing of commemorative offerings of fresh flowers and evergreen sprigs next to the gravestone by those attending. Stephen Snowberger's mother, Deborah Brown, will be reading a poem to honor her son. A documentary film crew will be among the media covering this historic event.
For more information & to arrange interviews:
Contact: Rev. Selena Fox, Circle Sanctuary: selena@circlesanctuary.org
(608) 334-5923 (cell - Friday & Saturday morning)
Circle Sanctuary, PO Box 9, Barneveld, WI 53507 USA
(608) 924-2216 (church office M-F 9am-4pm Central)
Friday, November 30, 2007