Why can't Miltary Wiccans have Penticles on their Tombstones?

Question

For over nine years Pagans have been Applying for approval of a Penticle as a symbol of Religious Faith for Military tombstones.
Buddist, Muslems, even an Athiest symbol have been approved since then, as a Combat Vet who almost died in Iraq I'm angry that I could not have had the symbol of my faith on my gravestone.
Why not?

*your answer may appear on my next Podcast!

Answer 1

Because the VA is dragging their feet and continuing to delay their decision over and over again. The irony is that there are many faiths- some I've never heard of- whose symbols are permitted on military tombstones. Even Atheists have a symbol! The reluctance of the VA to approve the pentacle symbol reflects the religious bias of the current administration.

It took a long time and a lot of work to get Wicca recognized within the US Armed Forces as a legitimate faith group. They finally included a chapter on Wicca in the Chaplain's handbook in 1987. I was part of the group of military members who campaigned for our rights, and I wrote a lot of that entry. Before this faith was recognized, Pagans and Wiccans in the Armed Forces were harassed and often subject to religious harassment and unwarranted searches of their personal belongings if they lived in the on-base dormitories.

Today, they are permitted to take their holidays off when duty permits, and to gather either in the chapel annex or elsewhere on their bases to celebrate their faith. There are no Wiccan chaplains, but there are Wiccan chaplain's assistants.

Answer 2

I truly don't understand why they can't. After all, Wicca is recognized as a religion by the US Military, and military Wiccans can meet on bases and observe their Sabbats. Soldiers are supposed to be fighting for American freedoms, and it's sad that they can't have their freedom of religion when they die for our country. We need to keep plugging away. I think it's an inspiration to the rest of the world, especially parts that are theocratic, to see all these symbols unified together as one country's armed forces.

I am very glad that you could come home to a pentacle necklace to wear with civilian clothes instead of a pentacle on a tombstone, however!

Answer 3

Perhaps it is because the modern Wiccan movement is really only about 50 years old yet the symbol you are trying to tie to it dates back many millenia and has, at times, had various meanings in various cultures. It is much like trying to trademark something that is already been in use for a long time.

Answer 4

I'm not a Pagan, but I think it's disgusting that after asking you to die for your country, the military will not recognize your right to the tombstone of your choice.

It is shameful and a disgrace. For them to continue dragging their feet while there is an unmarked grave waiting for their decision is an outrage to the soldier who died--everyone, regardless of their religion, should be angry at the government over this.

Answer 5

Because the military brass is thick as a brick between the ears.

See what's going on in our armed services:

http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/05/03/airforce.religion/
Excerpt: < Among the allegations are that cadets are frequently pressured to attend chapel and take religious instruction, particularly in the evangelical Christian faith; that prayer is a part of mandatory events at the academy; and that in at least one case a teacher ordered students to pray before beginning their final examination. The report said it found that non-Christian cadets are subjected to "proselytization or religious harassment" by more senior cadets; and that cadets of other religions are subject to discrimination, such as being denied passes off-campus to attend religious services. >

Excerpt from http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/08/29/AR2005082901874.html
< Goldman, 33, left Fort Stewart, Ga., in January 2002 to return to his native Canada after just one year as an Orthodox Jewish military chaplain. He said that he believes he resigned legally from the Army and that the desertion charge was a vindictive response to his allegations. While he was posted at the Georgia base, Goldman said, he worked in a "poisonous atmosphere" created by three Christian chaplains. One of the men taunted him by displaying Nazi guard uniforms, he said. His supervising chaplain told him, "Rabbi, if you want to survive down here, this is the South, and you'd better forget you are a [expletive] Yankee rabbi from up north," Goldman said. >

Answer 6

Hello witchdoctorjoe.. :)

I stand behind you 100%..I am a born again child of the Most High God..

I do agree, that if others can use their symbols..so should the Pagans be able to use theirs.. :)

In Jesus Most Precious Name..
With Love..In Christ..

Answer 7

Because the United States in United Under God. It would go against the premise

Answer 8

because we live in biased society who is christian based. It's insane, especially since the roots of paganism are *WAY* older then christian sects. And people who say it would go against 'under god', or 'in god we trust' are ignorant. Maybe they should read up on things before they run their mouths off about things they have no comprehension of.
Blessed be. )o(

Answer 9

You must contact the ACLU. They will help you. The military is in breech of your constitutional rights. Quit bitchi*g about it and DO something about it. Your words and time are waisted complaining to a bunch of crazy lazy teenagers.

Answer 10

I suppose it would be difficult to match "In God We Trust" with devil worshipping and such. But again, there is this freedom of speech thing so maybe eventually you'll get what you want.