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We are currently working to get the pentagram recognized by the Veteran's Administration. This would allow our most sacred symbol to be added to the headstones of our soldiers. Even though the Wiccan religion is officially recognized by the United States Department of Defense. They have not allowing our Brothers and Sisters that have served our Country to have a Wiccan symbol placed on their headstones!

I started out on this campaign because I have a vested interest in getting the US Department of Veteran Affairs to recognize the Pentacle as an authorized emblem of belief. I spent 11 years in the Navy giving myself and my services to the government and was diagnosed with leukemia in 1996. Luckily it's been in remission since.

I would like to know that when I pass away, my family could receive a marker that reflects both my status as a veteran as well as my religious beliefs. I understand that you cannot have emblems representing all religions. It would seem fair to have at least one or more options for those veterans who are Wicca or even Pagan.

I also told both Senator Murray and Lindee Lenox about Abraham M Kooiman a decorated World War II vet buried at the National Arlington Cemetery, section 54, row O, site 2861. PFC Kooiman served with the 91st Infantry division and was awarded the Combat Infantryman's Badge, the Purple Heart (for wounds suffered in combat) and the Bronze Star. Although he was not from our State he is still a Wiccan veteran whose grave marker does not reflect his religious belief.

Patrick Stewart was in killed in Afghanistan September 25, 2005. It didn't get in the way of him serving his country with distinction in the Nevada National Guard. Sgt. Stewart was post-humously awarded a Purple Heart and a Bronze Star after being killed in Afghanistan when the helicopter carrying him was shot down.

His widow, Roberta, held her own Memorial Day service this past May 31 to protest the government's policy. She has refused a temporary marker at the Northern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery until she gets a permanent recognition of her late husband's faith.

I have absolutely no problem with other groups being granted approval for their emblems of faith; we are merely asking why, after dozens of applications and years of waiting one of our emblems of Faith have yet to be approved, or even refused so that we could appeal.

I also responded with a letter to Lindee Lenox who is the Chief of Operations for the National Cemetery Administration and thanked her for the prompt reply to my letter. I told her that I felt that the Department of Veteran Affairs, National Cemetery Administration is discriminating against Wicca veterans. All I'm trying to do, is have the Pentacle recognized as an Emblem of Belief for Wicca. We have submitted the information that they required repeatedly for the last six years. Yet they still claim that they are working on it. I have witnessed 4 other emblems added to the list of approved emblems of belief. I find it hard to believe that those groups have been waiting as long as six years. Ms Lenox informed me that they were in the process of "revising" the procedures of adding emblems of belief to the approved list and that it would be complete in the "near future". She also told me I could apply to have an emblem added once the procedures were in place.

Now after waiting for the VA to revise the regulation and the resubmitting application per there instructions they now say that they must review the procedure once again. Here is a sample of the rhetoric:
"We have been advised by the Veterans' Administration General Counsel that we must conduct a rulemaking to establish procedures governing our consideration of applications for the addition of new emblems of belief to the listing of emblems that may be inscribed on government-furnished headstones and markers. The Veterans' Administration will publish its rule in the Federal Register and allow for all public comment. Once rulemaking is completed, the Veterans' Administration will review all pending applications using the criteria set forth in the new regulation. Thank you for your interest in National Cemetery Administration programs and our nation's veterans."

The Wiccan community has been pushed aside and stone walled long enough! If you have any time to help right this problem please e-mail us so we can add your voice to ours.