Wiccan symbol OK for soldiers' graves
Pastor Dale Morgan
Wiccan symbol OK for soldiers' graves*
POSTED: 1722 GMT (0122 HKT), April 23, 2007
Story Highlights
• VA settles dispute with 11 Wiccan families
• Families can display Wiccan symbol, a pentacle, on soldiers' graves
• Five-pointed star joins 38 other approved symbols
• Wiccans hope to get markers ready by Memorial Day
MADISON, Wisconsin (AP) -- The Wiccan pentacle has been added to the
list of emblems allowed in national cemeteries and on government-issued
headstones of fallen soldiers, according to a settlement announced Monday.
A settlement between the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and Wiccans
adds the five-pointed star to the list of "emblems of belief" allowed on
VA grave markers.
Eleven families nationwide are waiting for grave markers with the
pentacle, said Selena Fox, a Wiccan high priestess with Circle Sanctuary
in Barneveld, Wisconsin, a plaintiff in the lawsuit.
The settlement calls for the pentacle, whose five points represent
earth, air, fire, water and spirit, to be placed on grave markers within
14 days for those who have pending requests with the VA.
"I am glad this has ended in success in time to get markers for Memorial
Day," Fox said.
The VA sought the settlement in the interest of the families involved
and to save taxpayers the expense of further litigation, VA spokesman
Matt Burns said. The agency also agreed to pay $225,000 in attorneys'
fees and costs.
The pentacle has been added to 38 symbols the VA already permits on
gravestones. They include commonly recognized symbols for Christianity,
Buddhism, Islam and Judaism, as well as those for smaller religions such
as Sufism Reoriented, Eckiankar and the Japanese faith Seicho-No-Ie.
"This settlement has forced the Bush Administration into acknowledging
that there are no second class religions in America, including among our
nation's veterans," said the Rev. Barry W. Lynn, director of Americans
United for Separation of Church and State, which represented the Wiccans
in the lawsuit.
The American Civil Liberties Union said the agreement also settles a
similar lawsuit it filed last year against the VA. In that case, the
ACLU represented two other Wiccan churches and three individuals.
VA-issued headstones, markers and plaques can be used in any cemetery,
whether it is a national one such as Arlington or a private burial
ground like that on Circle Sanctuary's property.
Wicca is a nature-based religion based on respect for the earth, nature
and the cycle of the seasons. Variations of the pentacle not accepted by
Wiccans have been used in horror movies as a sign of the devil.