Like many Pagans, I've wondered for quite some time why the federal
Department of Veterans Affairs has, for 10 years, fought against
placing the pentacle, a symbol of the Wicca faith, on the grave
markers of Wiccan soldiers buried in government cemeteries. One would
think that if a soldier dies in combat, and is a follower of a
religion which is officially recognized by the U.S. military, that
placing the symbol of that soldier's faith upon his or her marker
would not be an issue.

Except we live in a country in which the president of the United
States does not believe these soldiers have such a right, in spite of
the fact that they died fighting for their country in a war which he
himself initiated. In a 1999 appearance on ABC's "Good Morning
America", then-Texas Gov. Bush responded to questions about a
controversy which was raging at the time over Wiccan soldiers being
allowed to hold services at the Fort Hood army installation in Texas.
"I don't think witchcraft is a religion," he said. "I would hope the
military officials would take a second look at the decision they made."

While there is no proof that the White House has been involved in the
issue concerning the pentacle on the grave markers of Wiccan soldiers,
Bush has not wavered from his belief that Wicca is not a religion, and
has never apologized for his remarks. His beliefs in regards to Wicca
has apparently been echoed by the Veterans Administration, and led to
their long, protracted struggle to keep the Wiccan pentacle out of
government cemeteries.

Well, last Monday the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs announced a
settlement that would allow the Wiccan pentacle to be added to the
list of emblems allowed in national cemeteries and on goverment-issued
headstones of fallen soldiers. 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.

Barry Lynn, director of Americans United for Separation of Church and
State, called the settlement in Circle Sanctuary v. Nicholson "a proud
day for religious freedom in the United States." But he noted that VA
documents the plaintiffs' attorneys reviewed appeared to reveal that
government officials had intentionally dragged their feet on approving
the symbol for fear that it would upset religious conservatives.

"Many people have asked me why the federal government was so stubborn
about recognizing the Wiccan symbol," Lynn said. "I did not want to
believe that bias toward Wiccans was the reason, but that appears to
have been the case. That's discouraging, but I'm pleased we were able
to put a stop to it." He also noted, "This settlement has forced the
Bush Administration into acknowledging that there are no second class
religions in America, including among our nation's veterans."

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.

Eleven families nationwide are waiting for grave markers with the
pentacle, said Selena Fox, a Wiccan high priestess with Circle
Sanctuary in Barneveld, Wis., a plaintiff in the lawsuit.

"I am glad this has ended in success in time to get markers for
Memorial Day," Fox said.

The VA stated that they sought the settlement in the interest of the
families involved and to save taxpayers the expense of further
litigation. This according to VA spokesman Matt Burns. 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.

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.

And just in case anyone hasn't picked up on it yet, Wiccans would
probably like to once again remind people that Wicca is a nature-based
religion based on respect for the earth, nature and the cycle of the
seasons. Variations of the pentacle have long been used in horror
movies as a sign of the devil, and is perhaps the primary reason many
Americans wrongly associate Wicca and Paganism with Satan-worship.

http://thewatch.pagancentric.org/2007/04/va-to-give-pentacles-for-fallen-wiccan.\
html