Wiccan War Widow Holds Own Ceremony; Protests Official Memorial Service

Madison.com via AP Wire ^ | May 30, 2006 | Tom Gardener

[Diana in Wisconsin]

FERNLEY, NV - A war widow who wants the government to put a Wiccan religious symbol on her husband's memorial plaque held an alternative service Monday as a protest, hours before an official Memorial Day ceremony nearby.

"This is discrimination against our religion," Roberta Stewart said at the gathering of about 200 at a park east of Fernley for her late husband, Sgt. Patrick Stewart. "I ask you to help us remember that all freedoms are worth fighting for."

A few hours later and a few miles away in this pastoral community east of Reno, official Memorial Day ceremonies were conducted at the Northern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery.

The space under Stewart's name on a memorial plaque remains blank.

The Department of Veterans Affairs so far has refused to grant the Stewart family's request to have the Wiccan pentacle, a five-pointed star surrounded by a circle, placed on the government-issued plaque.

Stewart, 34, was killed in Afghanistan on Sept. 25 when a rocket-propelled grenade struck his helicopter. Four others also died. Stewart was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart.

Wiccans worship the Earth and believe they must give to the community. Some consider themselves "white" or good witches, pagans or neo-pagans.

"We are here today to honor American religious diversity of all faiths," the Rev. Selena Fox said at the alternative memorial service.

Fox, senior minister of a Wiccan group based in Barneveld, Wis., said Stewart died defending the country that is denying him the right to express his religious freedom.

Jo Schuda, a spokeswoman for the VA, said Friday she did not know when a decision would be made on the request.

Approximately 1,800 active-duty service members identify themselves as Wiccans, according to 2005 Defense Department statistics.

[SouthernBoyupNorth]

I don't see how this qualifies as lunatic. The man fought for his right to practice his religion. Now the Government is saying they won't put a pentacle of his grave but they won't hesitate to put a crescent on the grave of a Muslim or a cross on a Christian or a star of david on a Jew... whats wrong with that picture?

[conservativehusker]

Does your religious preference still go on the Dog Tags?? ...I have to say that if thats what he wanted thats what he should get....

[mnehring]

I agree completely.

[RexBeach]

God bless Sgt. Stewart.

He was a member of the Wiccan whatever?

My God, this must be a great country that would allow such unusual voices a momentary place in the sun.

[Fighting Irish]

If the couple practiced Phallic worship would they .....

Well, you know where I'm going with this.

[ASA Vet]

I have an officially issued set of dog tags which give my religion as "Druid."

[The KG9 Kid]

Funny, you don't look Druish.

[conservativehusker]

What symbol would they have put on your marker..LOL...

[Virginia Ridgerunner]

[Sax]

[mnehring]

Just some interesting information, here are the 'approved' religious grave markers.

No symbol.
1. Latin Cross - Christian; generic.
2. Wheel of Righteousness - Buddhist.
3. Star of David - Jewish.
Other: Shown on the back of the form are: 4. Presbyterian cross.
5. Russian Orthodox cross.
6. Lutheran cross.
7. Episcopal cross.
8. Flaming chalice: Unitarian Universalist.
9. United Methodist Church cross.
10. Aaronic Order Church.
11. Latter-day Saints: Angel Moroni with horn.
12. Native American Church of America: Teepee with three feathers.
13. Serbian Orthodox: cross.
14. Greek Cross: similar to the Red Cross.
15. Baha'i: 9 pointed star.
16. Atheist: A stylized symbol of an atom with the letter A in the center.
17. Islam: A crescent and star.
18. Hindu symbol.
19. Konko-Kyo faith.
20. Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (now called the Community of Christ: A child between a lion and lamb.
21. Sufism reoriented symbol.
22. Tenrikyo church symbol.
23. Seicho-no-ie symbol.
24. The Church of World Messianity symbol.
25. United Church of Religious Science symbol.
26. Christian Reformed Church: Cross and triangle.
27. United Moravian Church: Lamb carrying flag.
28. Eckankar: Stylized letters "EK"
29: Christian church - generic: A cup.
30: Christian & Missionary Alliance: a cross, chalice, crown and pitcher
31: United Church of Christ: a crown, cross and world symbol
32: Humanism: a stylized image of a human.
33: Presbyterian Church, USA: A flaming cross
34: Ixumo Taishakyo Mission of Hawaii: A hexagon surrounding a symbol
35: Soks Gakkai International - USA: A complex symbol
36: Sikh: The Khanda symbol; three swords and a rink
Listed separately because of copyright restrictions: United Church of Christ.
Christian Science: cross and crown.
Islam: Five pointed star. 4

[Sols]

There are NO legitimate reasons not to let a Wiccan put a pentacle on their memorial plaque. I don't know who the VA think they are making a judgement about the legitimacy of a fallen soldier's religion, but they need to have a little compassion.

As an aside, I wonder if atheists get anything on their plaques? Agnostics should get a big question mark. :)

[taxcontrol]

For Reference -

The US Army prepared a book for the guidance of its chaplains when dealing with a soldier of a non-traditional faith. The book is: "Religious Requirements and Practices of Certain Selected Groups: A Handbook for Chaplains," and was first published in 1978. The 1990 edition appears to have gone out of print. However a new version was published in 2001 under the same name. The the U.S. Department of the Army is listed as as editor 1

Pages 231-236 of the 1990 edition contained an excellent description of Wicca.

see the following URL for text: http://www.religioustolerance.org/wic_usbk.htm

For the official VA list of symbols:
http://www.cem.va.gov/hmemb.htm

[SouthernBoyupNorth]

Yes they still put your religious preference on your dog tags and in your service Jacket. At least they still did when I joined back in the 80's. Don't know about now with the "clintonization" of the services.

[mnehring]

Church of Rock? Ronnie James Dio-ite?

[mnehring]

I would rather have a Wiccian Marine in my foxhole than a Democrat Senator.

[antiRepublicrat]

Christian church - generic: A cup.

Well, you'd think they'd at least be nice and give him a C cup.

[Virginia Ridgerunner]

Atheist symbol???? Like this---?

[Sax]

Yeah, I thought it would look funny there. Bush is giving the folks in Texas the Hook 'em Horns salute in honor of his UT supporters. I remember he did that during a parade as President when the UT marching band passed by and the Norweigen Press ran some story with the photo something like "Bush worships the devil!" I got a real good chuckle out of that one.