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Wiccan War Widow Holds Own Ceremony; Protests Official Memorial Service
Madison.com via AP Wire ^ | May 30, 2006 | Tom Gardener

Posted on 05/30/2006 12:53:17 PM PDT by 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.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; US: Nevada; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: fallen; lunatic; militaryfamilies; wiccan
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To: AppyPappy

He did.


61 posted on 05/30/2006 2:19:53 PM PDT by stands2reason (You cannot bully or insult conservatives into supporting your guy.)
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To: PeteB570

"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!


62 posted on 05/30/2006 2:21:00 PM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin (Save The Earth. It's The Only Planet With Chocolate.)
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To: Virginia Ridgerunner
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.
63 posted on 05/30/2006 2:21:07 PM PDT by pollyannaish
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To: MeanWestTexan

The pentagram has always been an important symbol.

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


64 posted on 05/30/2006 2:22:01 PM PDT by stands2reason (You cannot bully or insult conservatives into supporting your guy.)
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To: Diana in Wisconsin
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.

65 posted on 05/30/2006 2:22:08 PM PDT by Antonello (Oh my God, don't shoot the banana!)
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To: MeanWestTexan
Wouldn't this be the UT symbol?

Or perhaps this?


66 posted on 05/30/2006 2:23:20 PM PDT by colorcountry (He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep, to gain what he cannot lose.)
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To: antiRepublicrat

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


67 posted on 05/30/2006 2:24:55 PM PDT by stands2reason (You cannot bully or insult conservatives into supporting your guy.)
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To: MeanWestTexan

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


68 posted on 05/30/2006 2:26:11 PM PDT by stands2reason (You cannot bully or insult conservatives into supporting your guy.)
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To: Antonello

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


69 posted on 05/30/2006 2:26:33 PM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin (Save The Earth. It's The Only Planet With Chocolate.)
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To: PeteB570

He was Wiccan; there was plenty of proof.


70 posted on 05/30/2006 2:27:52 PM PDT by stands2reason (You cannot bully or insult conservatives into supporting your guy.)
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To: stands2reason

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.


71 posted on 05/30/2006 2:29:11 PM PDT by MeanWestTexan (Many at FR would respond to Christ "Darn right, I'll cast the first stone!")
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To: colorcountry

U.T.

Damn punctuation police.


72 posted on 05/30/2006 2:30:02 PM PDT by MeanWestTexan (Many at FR would respond to Christ "Darn right, I'll cast the first stone!")
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To: pollyannaish

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."


73 posted on 05/30/2006 2:30:35 PM PDT by stands2reason (You cannot bully or insult conservatives into supporting your guy.)
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To: pollyannaish

I'm sorry. I misread your post.


74 posted on 05/30/2006 2:31:24 PM PDT by stands2reason (You cannot bully or insult conservatives into supporting your guy.)
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To: stands2reason

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).


75 posted on 05/30/2006 2:32:32 PM PDT by mnehring (Those who advocate, and act to promote, victory by Democrats are not conservatives!)
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To: MeanWestTexan

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.


76 posted on 05/30/2006 2:34:10 PM PDT by colorcountry (He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep, to gain what he cannot lose.)
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To: stands2reason
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.
77 posted on 05/30/2006 2:34:46 PM PDT by pollyannaish
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To: conservativehusker

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


78 posted on 05/30/2006 2:39:45 PM PDT by magslinger (WWJBD? What Would Jack Bauer Do?)
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To: SouthernBoyupNorth

I agree.


79 posted on 05/30/2006 2:40:50 PM PDT by Ronin (Ut iusta esse, lex noblis severus necesse est.)
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To: antiRepublicrat
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.
80 posted on 05/30/2006 2:47:17 PM PDT by Ronin (Ut iusta esse, lex noblis severus necesse est.)
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