| ACTION - Beltane 2006 - Article 2 |
Action is the official newsletter of the Alternative Religions Educational Network
WICCAN PENTACLE CASE STILL GETS MEDIA ATTENTION |
The ongoing wait for approval of the pentacle for Pagan veteran headstones and memorial plaques by the Veteran’s Affairs Administration has continued to get media attention. Anyone knows that to build public support, one has to get the media’s attention and hold it, if possible. From the public’s standpoint anything not covered by the media does not exist. Keeping media interest is one of the most difficult things for Stewart, and Lady Liberty League of Circle Sanctuary, to accomplish. On Mar. 16 an editorial appeared in the Lantontan Valley News titled “Wiccan demonstrates folly of mixing church and state.” It called the the wait for approval for the pentacle for Sgt. Patrick Stewart plaque a case of religious discrimination. The editorial said, “This is obviously religious discrimination, and we predict it is only a matter of time before the courts reverse the VA's position, if the agency does not see the light on its own accord.” It said, “But when the wife of a fallen airman can't even put a symbol of her faith on his memorial, that's an indication that perhaps freedom of religion in the United States isn't as free as we would like to think.” It brought up the point nothing in the Constitution gives disclaimers for religions not of the majority. On Mar. 17, Federal News Radio, 1050 am, did a piece called “Dying for Freedom.” In reporting Roberta’s struggle, the radio station said, “The Thane Daily Tribute reports Sgt. Stewart was posthumously awarded the Air Medal, the Bronze star, the Purple Heart, the Nevada Distinguished Service Medal, and the Combat Action Badge. The RENO GAZETTE-JOURNAL ran a special article, “Remember soldier as man whose beliefs led him to serve country” on Mar.17 written by the Rev. Bill Crystal, Minister of the First Congregational Church of Reno, who served as a chaplain in the Nevada Army National Guard before his retirement from the military. As such he had served as Sgt. Patrick Stewart’s chaplain in the National Guard. He had also attended Stewart’s Wiccan memorial ceremony. In his article he wrote about the unfairness that Stewart was not yet allowed yet the pentacle on his memorial plaque. Rev. Bill Crystal said, “The United States government, if it has not already done so, must quickly do one of two things: It must remove all religious symbols from memorial markers or it must accommodate the religious preferences of all people, including Stewart.” “Let Pat be remembered not only for the man he was but as a person who was animated by a set of beliefs that led him to give his life in the service of his country.” The same day RENO GAZETTE-JOURNAL also published “Nevada guard returns home.” This story about Stewart's unit’s return. It mentioned that signatures were collected to petition the U. S. Department of Veterans Affairs to allow a Wiccan symbol next to Stewart's name on a plaque in the Northern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Ferny. René Herron, whose brother was among the returning members of the unit signed the Stewart‘s petition. She said, "It doesn't matter to me or anyone what his faith is. He still gave his life for his country." Mar 19, 2006, the Las Vegas Review-Journal ran an article, “Tears, smiles greet National Guard members” on Mar. 19 upon the return of Sgt. Stewart’s unit to Stead, Nevada This article was on the return of Sgt. Stewart’s unit to Stead, Nevada after spending more than a year in Afghanistan. His Widow Roberta Stewart was there to greet her husband’s unit, along with their families and dignitaries. At the ceremony, Adjutant General Cynthia Kirkland, Rep. Jim Gibbons, R-Nev., and Lt. Gov. Lorraine Hunt , Nev.,took part in a moment of silence for the lost crew of Mustang 22, which included Sgt. Stewart. The article interviewed Roberta and told of her fight for the pentacle, and her frustration over the delay in getting a decision from the VA. At the reunion ceremony Mrs. Stewart had her petition to send to Rep. Jim Gibbons, R-Nev. promised to meet soon with Veterans Affairs official to get the issue resolved. Gibbons said, "We should never discriminate against anyone who has given his life for this country, regardless of what their religious background might be. I think it does a tremendous disservice to every serviceman out there." Meanwhile another Wiccan woman will not be around to see it. Rosemary Cooiman, who had fought for years to get the pentacle on her husband’s grave, died in her home in Laurel, MD on Mar. 5. Mar. 22, The First Amendment Center ran The Associated Press news story “Wiccans fight for military recognition.” The headline was slightly inaccurate as it was about V. A. recognition rather than military recognition, it was an accurate account of the struggle of getting recognition of the pentacle by the V. A. It gave some of Patrick Stewart’s military career story. He ”... The following day the Scripps Howard News Service did “Feds weigh allowing Wiccan symbols on govt.-issued grave markers.” It related the lesser-known protest at Arlington National Cemetery where High Priestess Rosemary Cooiman had glued a vinyl pentacle on Abraham Cooiman’s headstone, her recently dead husband, during a visit of President Bush to lay a wreath at the tomb of the unknown soldier in 2003. They brought up the question why during that time obscure ones as Seicho-No-Ie, Eckankar, Sufism and Humanism were permitted, even the Atheists. They interviewed Selena Fox about the Stewart’s recent death and the continued nearly decade long fight of Wiccans for V. A. approval of the pentacle as a religious symbol. Fox also mentioned Cooiman’s recent death on Mar. 5 at her home. Mar. 26, 6:50 PM,Sploid.com/news ran “NO RESPECT FOR HERO'S RELIGION” It also said that Wiccan is not the only religion without an approved religious symbol by the VA, using Pagans, Spiritualists, Scientologists, Deists, Taoists, Druids and Rastafarians as just a few examples. Fox News did an interviewed Roberta Stewart on Apr. 3. They brought up the question of whether the government has the right to pick and choose on which religions it will approve, in light of the idea of religious freedom enshrined in our Constitution. Fox mentioned the other 38 approved symbols including non-mainstream religions and even for atheists. Apr. 7 the Daily Sparks Tribune in “Ferny widow takes her Wiccan warriors faith national” reported that Roberta Stewart and Selena Fox had met with William Tuerk, Under Secretary for Memorial Affairs in the National Cemetery Administration at the Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA.) This took place on Mar. 29 a Wed, though it was misquoted as April 29 in the article. It included also the Director of Field Program Steve Muro and acting Director of Memorial Program Services Lindee Lenox. Editor’s note: Unfortunately the VA has not announced any timetable for when the decision might yet be made. Roberta Stewart has one of two dates she would like to see the decision made by if possible. She said, “I’m requesting to have Pat’s plaque approved as soon as possible. I’d like to have it finished by April 22, which is Earth Day,” She said. “I plan to go back to Wisconsin to a large memorial that is planned for him at a Wiccan gathering that day. If not my next target date is the traditional Memorial Day here in Ferny with our Nevada National Army Guard family.” The article pointed out that Selena Fox of Circle Sanctuary said that other federal departments already have recognized Wiccan as a religion including the IRS, the Department of Defense, the Department of Justice, the Department of Correction and the Department of Treasury have recognized the Wiccan faith since the 1970s. Again Stewart brought up the case of Rosemary Cooiman, though the article did misquote in saying Cooiman had given a pentacle to Pres. On Apr. 10 National Public Radio did a report on All Things Considered, in its people and place segment, headlined “Wiccan Soldier's Widow Petitions for Recognition.” Eight days later News Talk 1410 in La Crosse, Wisconsin ran a headline about the difficulty in getting the VA to approve the pentacle while other religions had their symbols approved in the meantime. There are so many potential pitfalls in dealing with the media, and not falling into any of them requires considerable care and skill, something that must be more difficult when one is still grieving for the loss of a husband. It is still unknown if the VA will make their decision, or if it may be necessary to take the issue to court. Any help from the Pagan community in letters to their representatives and local newspapers may be a great help in this cause. For updates on this issue go to http://www.circlesanctuary.org/ liberty/veteranpentacle/ The fight won’t end with the approval of the pentacle, for there are |