Widows Sue Over Wicca Symbol, Headstones
Pastor Dale Morgan
Widows Sue Over Wicca Symbol, Headstones*
Nov 14 1:16 PM US/Eastern
By MATT APUZZO
Associated Press Writer
WASHINGTON
The widows of two combat veterans sued the government Monday for not
allowing Wiccan symbols on their husbands' military headstones.
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs allows military families to
choose any of 38 authorized headstone images. The list includes 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.
The Wiccan pentacle, a five-pointed star surrounded by a circle, is not
on the list, an omission that the widows say is unconstitutional.
The lawsuit was filed by Roberta Stewart, whose husband, Nevada National
Guard Sgt. Patrick Stewart, was killed in combat in Afghanistan last
year, and Karen DePolito, whose husband, Jerome Birnbaum, is a Korean
War veteran who died last year.
Wiccans worship the Earth and believe they must give to the community.
Some consider themselves "white" or good witches, pagans or neo- pagans.
Approximately 1,800 active-duty service members identify themselves as
Wiccans, according to 2005 Defense Department statistics.
Attorneys for Americans United, a group advocating separation of church
and state, argued in legal papers that it makes no sense for Wiccans to
be excluded. The Army allows Wiccan soldiers to list their faith on dog
tags, Wiccan organizations are allowed to hold services on military
installations and the Army Chaplains Handbook includes an explanation of
the religion, attorneys said.
Stewart, whose husband was awarded the Bronze Star and Purple Heart, has
sought federal government approval to affix the pentacle to the
Veterans' Memorial Wall in Nevada. Veterans officials denied the request
but Nevada officials said they would erect a plaque with the symbol.
In memos and letters cited by the lawsuit, Lindee L. Lenox, director of
memorial programs for the veterans agency, said the government was
reviewing the process for evaluating and approving new emblems and would
not accept new applications until the review was complete.
Circle Sanctuary, a Wiccan church located in Barneveld, Wis., is also
suing, saying Wiccans have been trying for years to get the religion
recognized.
The suit was filed in U.S. District Court in Western Wisconsin.