Fallen Soldier Gets a Bronze Star but No Pagan Star

[Guest guest]

By Alan Cooperman

Washington Post Staff Writer

Tuesday, July 4, 2006; Page A02

 

At the Veterans Memorial Cemetery in the small town of Fernley,

Nev., there is a wall of brass plaques for local heroes. But one

space is blank. There is no memorial for Sgt. Patrick D. Stewart.

That's because Stewart was a Wiccan, and the U.S. Department of

Veterans Affairs has refused to allow a symbol of the Wicca

religion -- a five-pointed star within a circle, called a pentacle --

to be inscribed on U.S. military memorials or grave markers.

 

The department has approved the symbols of 38 other faiths; about

half of are versions of the Christian cross. It also allows the

Jewish Star of David, the Muslim crescent, the Buddhist wheel, the

Mormon angel, the nine-pointed star of Bahai and something that

looks like an atomic symbol for atheists.

 

Stewart, 34, is believed to be the first Wiccan killed in combat. He

was serving in the Nevada National Guard when the helicopter in

which he was riding was shot down in Afghanistan last September. He

previously had served in the Army in Korea and Operation Desert

Storm. He was posthumously awarded a Purple Heart and a Bronze Star.

His widow, Roberta Stewart, scattered his ashes in the hills above

Reno and would like him to have a permanent memorial.

 

She said the veterans cemetery in Fernley offered to install a

plaque with his name and no religious symbol. She refused.

" Once they do that, they'll forget me. They don't like having a hole

in the wall, " she said. " I feel very strongly that my husband fought

for the Constitution of the United States, he was proud of his

spirituality and of being a Wiccan, and he was proud of being an

American. "

 

Wicca is one of the fastest-growing faiths in the country. Its

adherents have increased almost 17-fold from 8,000 in 1990 to

134,000 in 2001, according to the American Religious Identification

Survey. The Pentagon says that more than 1,800 Wiccans are on active

duty in the armed forces.

 

Wiccans still suffer, however, from the misconception that they are

devil worshipers. Some Wiccans call themselves witches, pagans or

neopagans. Most of their rituals revolve around the cycles of

nature, such as equinoxes and phases of the moon. Wiccans often pick

and choose among religious traditions, blending belief in

reincarnation and feminine gods with ritual dancing, chanting and

herbal medicine.

 

Federal courts have recognized Wicca as a religion since 1986.

Prisons across the country treat it as a legitimate faith, as do the

Internal Revenue Service and the U.S. military, which allows Wiccan

ceremonies on its bases.

 

" My husband's dog tags said 'Wiccan' on them, " Stewart noted.

But applications from Wiccan groups and individuals to VA for use of

the pentacle on grave markers have been pending for nine years,

during which time the symbols of 11 other faiths have been approved.

Department spokeswoman Josephine Schuda said VA turned down Wiccans

in the past because religious groups used to be required to list a

headquarters or central authority, which Wicca does not have. But

that requirement was eliminated last year, she noted.

 

" I really have no idea why it has taken so long " for the Wiccan

symbol to gain approval, Schuda said.

 

The department declined repeated requests from The Washington Post

to speak to higher-ranking officials about the issue.

 

Retired Army Chaplain William Chrystal, a United Church of Christ

minister who was chaplain of Stewart's National Guard unit, has

strongly backed Roberta Stewart's request.

 

" It's such a clear First Amendment issue, I can't even conceive of

why they are not granting it, except for political reasons, " he

said. " I think the powers that be are afraid they'll alienate

conservative Christians if they approve a symbol that connotes

witches and warlocks casting spells and brewing potions. "

 

Nevada's congressional delegation, including Senate Minority Leader

Harry M. Reid (D), also has supported Roberta Stewart.

 

But letters printed by Nevada newspapers indicate how much hostility

Wiccans face. " I don't see how anything that supports witchcraft and

satanism can legitimately be called a religion, " one reader wrote to

the Reno Gazette-Journal.

 

Stewart said that she is trying to educate people about Wicca, as

well as to fulfill her husband's wishes. " Until he is laid to rest, "

she said, " I cannot rest. "

 

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[Guest guest]

Thanks Nikki - it's depressing isn't it!

 

Jo

 

-

" earthstrm " <earthstorm

 

Thursday, July 06, 2006 5:28 PM

Fallen Soldier Gets a Bronze Star but No Pagan Star

 

 

> By Alan Cooperman

> Washington Post Staff Writer

> Tuesday, July 4, 2006; Page A02

[Guest guest]

Hi Jo

 

Extremely! And quite disappointing too!

 

They can fight and die for their country but they cannot be honored

afterwards. Tis not right!

 

BB

Nikki

 

 

, " jo " <jo.heartwork wrote:

>

> Thanks Nikki - it's depressing isn't it!

>

> Jo

>

> -

> " earthstrm " <earthstorm

>

> Thursday, July 06, 2006 5:28 PM

> Fallen Soldier Gets a Bronze Star but No

Pagan Star

>

>

> > By Alan Cooperman

> > Washington Post Staff Writer

> > Tuesday, July 4, 2006; Page A02

>