What Are These?








The answer is here; there's a controversy about whether something like this:

should be included as well.

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Wiccan Symbol in Veterans' Cemetery:

Howard Friedman (Religion Clause) reports:

[F]riends and family of a Nevada soldier killed over a year ago in Afghanistan, gathered today for the dedication of the first Wiccan pentacle symbol in a military cemetery.... While the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has still failed to act on requests by Wiccan families, the pentacle was placed on the Veterans Memorial Wall at the Northern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Fernley because in September the Nevada Office of Veteran Services that has jurisdiction over the state cemetery approved the plaque.

Go to the post for links and some more details. As I noted a few months ago, the government already provides a wide range of religious symbols for different religious.

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Veterans Administration Recognizes Wiccan Graveyard Marker:

I blogged about the controversy here and here. The controversy now seems to have been resolved:

Wiccans will be allowed to have the symbol of their religion placed on grave markers in national cemeteries under a lawsuit settlement with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs announced Monday.

The settlement calls for the Wiccans' pentacle, a five-pointed star representing earth, air, fire, water and spirit to be placed on grave markers within 14 days for those who have pending requests with the VA.

There are 11 families nationwide that are waiting for grave markers with the pentacle, said Selena Fox, a Wiccan high priestess with Circle Sanctuary in Barneveld, Wis., and a party to the lawsuit....

The agreement settles a lawsuit filed in November by veterans' widows and others alleging that the VA has stalled for more than nine years in recognizing the pentacle....

I'm glad the VA decided to accommodate the Wiccans' desires, much as it accommodates dozens of other religions. The VA's site has already been updated to include the symbol (#37 on this list).

Related Posts (on one page):

  1. Veterans Administration Recognizes Wiccan Graveyard Marker:
  2. Wiccan Symbol in Veterans' Cemetery:
  3. What Are These?
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