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.

[stands2reason]

He did.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

"Good thing I didn't get killed with one of the real stupid ones I had listed."

That probably saved your family a lot of grief; in more ways than one, LOL!

[pollyannaish]

I don't know much about this, but I think if that is a satanic pentagram, you have it upside down.

Second, although I completely and utterly disagree with his religion, this man earned the right to have whatever religion he wants on his headstone.

[stands2reason]

The pentagram has always been an important symbol.

It also represents the human body: head, arms, legs.

[Antonello]

The article was sorely lacking in details; you know the MSM and how they LOVE to leave out the details so it makes the MILITARY look bad.

My apologies. My perception was that you were questioning the right of the widow to make the declaration of the soldier's religious preference. As such, I was merely opining that, absent any direct indication from the decedent himself, the respectful thing would be to not question the next of kin's claim.

[colorcountry]

Wouldn't this be the UT symbol?

Or perhaps this?

[stands2reason]

I mentioned in another post that the pentagram represents man -- head, arms, body. Another reason other cultures would find it a powerful symbol.

[stands2reason]

I thought the Christian fish was from the Greek anagram for Christ.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

No problem. It never hurts to clarify oneself around here, that's for sure. ;)

[stands2reason]

He was Wiccan; there was plenty of proof.

[MeanWestTexan]

There are 50 versions of the origin; all apcryphl, IMHO.

Since Christ is known to have said "I will give you the sign of Jonah. (That is, die and come back to life in three days), it seems the most likely explanation to me.

[MeanWestTexan]

U.T.

Damn punctuation police.

[stands2reason]

Upside down it is a Satanic symbol. Right side up, it's not.

The rightside up pentagram has long been an important symbol, way more so than the upside down one.




That's like seeing a cross and saying "That's a Satanic symbol, only you have it upside down."

[stands2reason]

I'm sorry. I misread your post.

[mnehring]

It is also the path Venus takes in the sky over an 8 year period (I believe this was the original source of the symbol).

[colorcountry]

Hahaha I thought you were getting a little "mormons are satanists," bashing in.

Now that I know it's Texans/satanists....I'll let you slide.

[pollyannaish]

No problem. So you are saying that it does mean different things if it is oriented differently? I have always heard that right-side up is (or was) the symbol for mankind or something, and that upside down was the sign of the goat.

Just clarifying. Frankly I don't spend a lot of time worrying about this sort of thing.

[magslinger]

A tree. Now if he had put Druid (Reformed) a bush would be acceptable.

[Ronin]

I agree.

[Ronin]

The Pentacle is only a satanic symbol if it is reversed with the topmost part of the star pointing down.

The Buddhist swastika is quite common in Japan. It faces the opposite direction of the Nazi swastika, but still basically the same symbol. I have seen it on numerous temples and in other places. It might even be on a few gravestones, I've never checked.

I don't regard Wiccans as being Satanic, although I am sure there are numerous Christian denominations that disagree.