The Veterans Affairs' National Cemetery Administration allows only approved emblems of religious beliefs on government headstones. Over the years, it has approved more than 30, including symbols for the Tenrikyo Church, United Moravian Church and Sikhs. There's also an emblem for atheists – but none for Wiccans.
RENO, Nev. — Nevada officials are pressing the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs to allow the family of a soldier killed in Afghanistan to place a Wiccan symbol on his headstone.
Federal officials so far have refused to grant the requests of the family of Sgt. Patrick Stewart, 34, who was killed in Afghanistan last September when the Nevada Army National Guard helicopter he was in was shot down.
Veterans buried in military cemeteries can't have Wicca's religious symbol, the pentangle, on memorials unless government policy changes.
Nev. politicians join soldier's widow in fight for Wiccan headstone
http://www.firstamendmentcenter.org/news.aspx?id=16939
2006-08-13
04:34:21
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