Quest Continues for Pentacle for Vets

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Thought I would share this.

 

 

mailinglistbouncer] On Behalf Of Circle Times

Monday, April 17, 2006 10:25 PM

[circletimes] Quest Continues for Pentacle for Vets

 

 

Several developments have happened in the past week regarding the quest

to have the Pentacle added to the list of emblems of belief that can be

inscribed on US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) issued headstones,

markers, and plaques for deceased veterans.

 

 

PENTACLE QUEST ON NATIONAL RADIO

 

 

A week ago, on Monday, April 10, news about the quest for the Pentacle

for Wiccan and Pagan veterans was broadcast nationwide on the afternoon

news show, " All Things Considered, " on National Public Radio (NPR).

This news report included the voices of Roberta Stewart and Selena Fox

of Circle Sanctuary. A recording of this report is archived on-line at

the NPR website:

 

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5334805

 

 

ROBERTA MEETS WITH SENATOR REID

 

 

This morning, Roberta Stewart met face-to-face with Senator Harry Reid,

Democratic leader of the US Senate, in connection with his public

meeting in Fernley, Nevada. Roberta thanked Senator Reid and his staff

for their support and asked for their continued help in expediting the

approval of the Pentacle by the VA.

 

 

Roberta told him that she wants to have her late husband's memorial

plaque, including the Pentacle emblem, at the Northern Nevada Veterans

Memorial Cemetery in Fernley in time for Memorial Day next month (May

29). She presented to Senator Reid a packet of materials that included

a handwritten thank you note from her, a letter to the VA from her

daughter Alex, a photo of Roberta by the blank spot on the Memorial wall

where her husband's plaque should be at the Veterans cemetery in

Fernley, and a photograph of her late husband, Sgt. Patrick Stewart, in

full flight gear proudly flying the American flag in his CH-47 Chinook

helicopter in Afghanistan.

 

 

LATEST NEWS FROM THE VA

 

 

This afternoon, Under Secretary William Tuerk, the head of the National

Cemetery Administration of the US Department of Veterans Affairs, and

High Priestess Selena Fox of Circle Sanctuary met by telephone for

nearly an hour. Selena requested the phone meeting last week as

follow-up to their face-to-face meeting on Wednesday, March 29 in the

meeting room of his office at the headquarters of the VA in Washington,

DC.

 

 

Under Secretary Tuerk told Selena that Pentacle approval continues to

be under consideration by VA officials. He said that Pentacle approval

has just moved to another level of review. It is now being considered

by VA legal counsel, who also are examining the larger issues about the

VA's decision making processes concerning not only emblems of belief

but also inscriptions and forms of monuments. He told Selena that he

still did not know how long this bureaucratic review process would

take.

 

 

Selena again urged that approval be expedited. She continued to

express concerns about the delays and how this is interfering with the

grieving processes of families of deceased veterans who continue to

await the approval. Selena also presented more details about her

previous work with other branches of the federal government regarding

Wiccan/Pagan religious accommodation, and he indicated that this

information was helpful. Also during today's meeting Selena spoke

about Roberta Stewart's need to have a plaque with the Pentacle on it

in time to honor her late husband Sgt. Stewart this Memorial Day.

 

 

HOW TO HELP THE PENTACLES FOR VETS QUEST:

 

 

* MONITOR local and national media covering this issue and write

letters in support of Pentacle approval to those sources. Please email

copies of any letters you write to: circle with

Pentacles for Vets in the subject line.

 

 

* REMEMBER Roberta Stewart who is continuing to speak to the media and

be in the forefront of this quest. Email words of support to her:

roberta

 

 

* STAY INFORMED - Additional updates about this Pentacle quest will be

published in Circle Times, our news bulletin.

 

 

* SPREAD THE WORD - Post to lists and forward this email to those you

know who might be interested in this.

 

 

Circle Times: Monday, April 17, 2006

 

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OOPS! There are two ways of spreading light: to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it.-Edith Wharton