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Wiccan Sign Allowed on Soldier's Plaque
AP ^
| 9/13/6
| SCOTT SONNER,
Posted on 09/13/2006 7:21:51 PM PDT by SmithL
Reno -- The widow of a soldier killed in Afghanistan won state approval Wednesday to place a Wiccan religious symbol on his memorial plaque, something the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs had refused.
"I'm honored and ecstatic. I've been waiting a year for this," Roberta Stewart said from her home in Fernley, about 30 miles east of Reno.
Sgt. Patrick Stewart, 34, was killed in Afghanistan last September when a rocket-propelled grenade struck his helicopter. Four others also died. Stewart was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart.
He was a follower of the Wiccan religion, which the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs does not recognize and therefore prohibits on veterans' headstones in national cemeteries.
But state officials said they had received a legal opinion from the Nevada attorney general's office that concluded federal officials have no authority over state veterans' cemeteries. They now plan to have a contractor construct a plaque with the Wiccan pentacle — a circle around a five-pointed star — to be added to the Veterans' Memorial Wall in Fernley.
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
TOPICS: Other non-Christian; Religion & Culture
KEYWORDS: firstamendment; freedomofreligion; readtheconstitution; wicca
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1
posted on
09/13/2006 7:21:55 PM PDT
by
SmithL
To: SmithL
Tsk.
NOW I've heard everything.
2
posted on
09/13/2006 7:22:42 PM PDT
by
starfish923
(Socrates: It's never right to do wrong.)
To: SmithL
Good. About time. It's embarassing that this was even an issue.
3
posted on
09/13/2006 7:24:17 PM PDT
by
Dead Corpse
(Quam terribilis est haec hora)
To: SmithL
So? Its his religion for Lug's sake!
4
posted on
09/13/2006 7:25:27 PM PDT
by
Clemenza
(Dave? Dave?)
To: SmithL
I don't care if he was a Satanist. He died fighting for his country, and he should get what he wants on his headstone.
5
posted on
09/13/2006 7:26:39 PM PDT
by
Zeroisanumber
(Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?)
To: Dead Corpse
I have known several Wiccans in the military.....would have been a shame to not let them have religious freedom!
6
posted on
09/13/2006 7:26:45 PM PDT
by
BossLady
To: SmithL
Good for the State of Nevada. He believed in Wiccian and this will give comfort to his family. Whatever my personal feelings on his religious beliefs, he is a hero who gave his life for me and the rest of the US. His grave should reflect his beliefs and be of comfort to his family.
7
posted on
09/13/2006 7:27:30 PM PDT
by
Talking_Mouse
(wahhabi delenda est)
To: Talking_Mouse
Very nicely said. Besides, I'm not sure that Wiccan is Satanism. I'll have to go look that up now. Prayers for this hero and his fallen comrades.
8
posted on
09/13/2006 7:31:07 PM PDT
by
CremeSaver
(I don't repeat gossip, so listen carefully.)
To: Zeroisanumber
I don't care if he was a Satanist. He died fighting for his country, and he should get what he wants on his headstone.Exactly. Most of them are ex-Catholics anyway. ;^)
To: SmithL
10
posted on
09/13/2006 7:33:12 PM PDT
by
Dick Vomer
(liberals suck......... but it depends on what your definition of the word "suck" is.)
To: SmithL
11
posted on
09/13/2006 7:33:13 PM PDT
by
Dick Vomer
(liberals suck......... but it depends on what your definition of the word "suck" is.)
To: CremeSaver
The Wiccians I know are not Satanists, they consider Satan a Christian "deity". The ones I know worship "the goddess" in her various aspects (Isis, Athena, Freya, Kuan Yin, etc). I am always amused to see the bumper sticker with a pentagram made of flags and "Goddess Bless America" on various cars.
12
posted on
09/13/2006 7:40:57 PM PDT
by
Talking_Mouse
(wahhabi delenda est)
To: SmithL
He was a follower of the Wiccan religion. . .I would offer that more than likely, this soldier, by now. . .has changed his mind.
13
posted on
09/13/2006 7:42:31 PM PDT
by
cricket
(Live Liberal free. . .or suffer their consequences. . .)
To: Talking_Mouse
They worship the creature/created rather than the Creator.
14
posted on
09/13/2006 8:00:50 PM PDT
by
Bosco
(Remember how you felt on September 11?)
To: Dick Vomer
Gardnerian Wicca no doubt, which is primarily about running around naked.
Though Deuteronomy 4:19 and Malachi 1:11.
RIP.
15
posted on
09/13/2006 8:08:12 PM PDT
by
onedoug
To: Bosco
Agreed wholeheartedly and completely. However, all but Christians and Jews do the same.
16
posted on
09/13/2006 8:13:28 PM PDT
by
Talking_Mouse
(wahhabi delenda est)
To: SmithL
Next, it'll be put on dog tags. Those'll be some interesting last rites.
17
posted on
09/13/2006 8:15:12 PM PDT
by
bannie
(HILLARY: Not all perversions are sexual.)
To: SmithL
I intend to be buried in a veterans cemetary also. I'm going to have the NASCAR logo put on my stone.
"NASCAR is not just a sport, it's a way of life!"
18
posted on
09/13/2006 8:15:12 PM PDT
by
FlingWingFlyer
(You can't defeat your enemy unless you are willing to get down in the mud with him.)
To: Talking_Mouse
All hail Zeus!
19
posted on
09/13/2006 8:17:45 PM PDT
by
Clint N. Suhks
(If you don't love Jesus, you can go to hell.)
To: bannie
I knew two Marines that had "Church of Satan" on their dog tags, wannabee biker types both of them.
20
posted on
09/13/2006 8:39:29 PM PDT
by
usmcobra
(I sing Karaoke the way it was meant to be sung, drunk, badly and in Japanese, that why I don't sing.)
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