Wiccan soldier killed in Afghanistan, government refused to grant Wiccan symbol on his headstone?

Question

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

Answer 1

What I find interesting is that the Army Chaplain's book gives them direction as to what a Wiccan believes so they can adequately help them with issues of faith. So, if they admit it is an valid religious belief as such then there is no reason for them not to put a Wiccan symbol on the gravestone of a soldier who has to the best of their ability to serve their country.

Hypocrisy in action.

Answer 2

There must be a snag somewhere. Why would our armed services allow Wiccan Priests to "minister" to the Wiccans and yet not allow the symbol to be on the headstone. The US Gov't recognizes Wicca as a legitimate religion, they should recognize it on their headstones.

http://www.paganvets.org/index.cfm?body=view_petition.cfm

Answer 3

solid FOR HER!!!! the protection rigidity is approximately ensuring the freedoms and rights human beings electorate are upheld. whilst we are buried, we would desire to consistently have a similar rights as everyone else. regrettably, the protection rigidity hasn't come around to changing the guidelines (old regs disallowed any non secular image on a gravestone from the VA, different than a circulate) in line with possibility this could carry them into the twenty first century. notice: i'm no longer a Wiccan, yet I do have faith that we would desire to consistently be waiting to precise our FREEDOM of religion.

Answer 4

The only way to change the policy is to continue fighting for the right. These other religions went through the same problems when the first one popped up I'm sure.

Answer 5

Well, what I would do is wait until he was buried & the tombstone was put in place. Then I would remove the stone & take it to a stone engraver & have the emblem put on there, if this was the persons last wishes.

There is no law against that.

Answer 6

The US Army recognises Wicca as an official religion, so there should not be a problem. Their ministers are trained on dealing with wiccan issues.

www.journey1.org

Answer 7

I am sorry to read that article. I think Wicca is a real religion and anybody who practices it, should have their funeral service as they please epically if the person served and died at war to "protect our freedom" as a faithful leader stated is so much at risk. So, this man died protecting only the "main stream freedoms" and not his own. I am very sorry for him and his family. Hopefully this mistake can be and will be corrected.

Answer 8

The army seems to believe that they can control the lives of their enlisted ranks. Now they hope to control their deaths too. The dignity to be buried in the manner that your faith dictates appears to be a privilege more than a right.

It's tragic.

Answer 9

Dont worry, its just a matter of time before you get what you want. AS usual it will evolve to the point that anything goes(halfway there already) and any type of nonesense will be displayed on a tombstone.

Answer 10

Read more about it here and cast your vote

http://www.thepaganactivist.com/