Success in the Veteran Pentacle Quest!

April 28, 2007

Author: Selena Fox

Source: Witchvox

http://www.witchvox.com/va/dt_va.html?a=uswi&c=military&id=11743

On Monday, April 23, 2007, after a decade of efforts, the US Department of Veterans Affairs finally added the Pentacle to its list of emblems of belief that can be included on the grave markers it issues to honor deceased US military veterans. This Veteran Pentacle Quest victory was announced that day at a national press conference held by Americans United for Separation of Church and State in Washington, DC, and within minutes of the announcement, this wonderful news began to spread across the nation and around the world through public and Pagan media. There was ... and continues to be ... much rejoicing.

Many thanks to everyone who has been part of the Veteran Pentacle Quest! Working together, we, at last, have Success in this Quest -- and in the greater Quest for equal rights for Wiccans, Witches, and Pagans around the world.

In my articles, " The Story of the Veteran Pentacle Quest" and " The Veteran Pentacle Quest Continues" published online and in CIRCLE magazine, I detail the history of this effort. Now that we finally have had this victory, I am sharing more about this Quest saga here.

Americans United for Separation of Church and State (AU) began providing legal assistance and other support to the Veteran Pentacle Quest shortly after Roberta Stewart, Rev. William Chrystal, and I held the Sgt. Patrick Stewart Freedom for All Faiths Memorial Day Service on May 29, 2006. The national media attention that came in the wake of that event, held near Roberta's home in Fernley, Nevada, resulted in our receiving a variety of offers of legal help. Roberta Stewart and I selected AU to represent us, in part, because I already had been collaborating with AU's Executive Director Barry Lynn on other Wiccan/Pagan religious freedom issues for more than twenty years.