Sharon Weinberger
Security

Wiccans Win Military Grave Battle

All those Wiccans in the military can breathe easy, because the Pentagon has reached a deal whereby Wiccan soldiers killed in battle can now be buried with the symbol of their religion: a five-pointed star. Why all the brouhaha? It seems the military, though it recognized Wiccans as a religion, had refused to allow the […]

WiccanAll those Wiccans in the military can breathe easy, because the Pentagon has reached a deal whereby Wiccan soldiers killed in battle can now be buried with the symbol of their religion: a five-pointed star. Why all the brouhaha? It seems the military, though it recognized Wiccans as a religion, had refused to allow the symbol on adherents' VA graves.

Who are the Wiccans? The Wiccans, at least according to Wikipedia, are a pagan religion that mixes elements of witchcraft and magic (any Wiccans out there who can help me with this?). There's over 100,000 in the U.S., and about 1,500 declared Wiccans in the miitary. Wiccans are now a fairly well organized and recognized U.S. religion, so what's the Pentagon's problem?

The military's troubled relationship with Wiccans has been brewing for some time (sorry, another bad pun). Along with the grave battle, the military also wouldn't accept a Wiccan chaplain into its ranks.

The Pentagon, in its ultimate wisdom, has finally conceded, at least on the burial battle, the AP reports.

The Wiccan pentacle has been added to the list of emblems allowed in national cemeteries and on government-issued headstones of fallen soldiers, according to a settlement announced Monday.

A settlement between the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and Wiccans adds the five-pointed star to the list of "emblems of belief" allowed on VA grave markers.

Eleven families nationwide are waiting for grave markers with the pentacle, said Selena Fox, a Wiccan high priestess with Circle Sanctuary in Barneveld, Wisconsin, a plaintiff in the lawsuit.

The settlement calls for the pentacle, whose five points represent earth, air, fire, water and spirit, to be placed on grave markers within 14 days for those who have pending requests with the VA.

"I am glad this has ended in success in time to get markers for Memorial Day," Fox said.

This should be good news for all religions. To quote a Wiccan saying (or at least I think it's a Wiccan saying): "An it harm none, do what you will."