Wiccan sign allowed on soldier's plaque

[Kadie]

Wiccan sign allowed on soldier's plaque
By SCOTT SONNER, Associated Press Writer
2 hours, 7 minutes ago


RENO, Nev. - The widow of a soldier killed in Afghanistan won state approval Wednesday to place a Wiccan religious symbol on his memorial plaque, something the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs had refused.

"I'm honored and ecstatic. I've been waiting a year for this," Roberta Stewart said from her home in Fernley, about 30 miles east of Reno.

Sgt. Patrick Stewart, 34, was killed in Afghanistan last September when a rocket-propelled grenade struck his helicopter. Four others also died. Stewart was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart.

He was a follower of the Wiccan religion, which the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs does not recognize and therefore prohibits on veterans' headstones in national cemeteries.

But state officials said they had received a legal opinion from the Nevada attorney general's office that concluded federal officials have no authority over state veterans' cemeteries. They now plan to have a contractor construct a plaque with the Wiccan pentacle — a circle around a five-pointed star — to be added to the Veterans' Memorial Wall in Fernley.

more...
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060914/ap_on_re_us/wiccan_soldier_1;_ylt=An1t3kDAGs53BWVK5yhcyB1saMYA;_ylu=X3oDMTA5bGVna3NhBHNlYwNzc3JlbA--

[Monkeyman]

1. JUST A VET HE EARNED THE RIGHT

[nuxvomica]

2. Well it's about time

It's still shameful that the VA hasn't gotten with the program on this. At least the state of Nevada gives a damn.

[Maat]

3. I'm so glad the State came to the rescue.

I thought the family would never get that pennacle there.

[MoseyWalker]

4. allowed?

just because someone joins the military and dies doesn't mean he gave up his rights as an american....fighting for freedom fries and all that........

allowed? She should be able to put any damn thing she wants on it.

[TheDebbieDee]

6. Uhm.....Actually, when someone joins

the military, they do give up most of their rights as an American.

You give up your right to free speech without repercussions, you give up your right to be free from unreasonable search and seizure while on Federal property (everyone, even civilians, gives up this right when on Federal property), you give up your right to bear arms (unless you are ordered to).

Virtually every American right or priviledge you can think of can be withheld or reduced to members of the military.

[madeline_con]

7. Even after death?! n/t

[madeline_con]

5. ALLOWED???!!! WTF???!!!

Why the hell was there even a question? I'm friggin outraged! There should be NO reason anyone would have to get PERMISSION for this!!!

Is anyone else really angry over this!!!??? :mad:

EDIT: MoseyWalker may be borderline angered. :)

[Orrex]

8. This is a victory for religious freedom

I mentioned the first half of this story a while back here.

Well done, Nevada!

[w4rma]

9. Good. (nt)

[niyad]

10. the UCMJ recognizes wicca, so why doesn't the US Dept of Vet Affairs?

that doesn't make any sense at all!!

[LeftCoast]

11. Hopefully no more families will have to go through this fight again

I can't imagine dealing with the grief of losing a loved-one and fighting the US gov't.