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WICCAN WIDOW RELIEVED VA CASE IS OVER -- She
put her
personal life and grieving process on hold to
fight a battle her
husband could not fight against the United
States government.
Background with backlinks here...
http://vawatchdog.org/07/nf07/nfAPR07/nf042407-2.htm
Story here...
http://www.lahontanvalleynews.com/
article/20070425/News/104250027
Story below:
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Wiccan widow relieved VA case is over
VIKTORIA PEARSON,
vpearson@lahontanvalleynews.com
The Department of Veterans Affairs finalized a settlement and
stipulation agreement to have the pentacle, a five-pointed star in a
circle and the symbol of Wiccan and pagan religions, placed on
tombstones or memorial markers at Arlington Cemetery and other
recognized U.S. military burial grounds Monday.
Roberta Stewart, of Fernley, the widow of Sgt. Patrick Stewart of the
Nevada National Guard who died in 2005 in a helicopter crash in
Afghanistan, became involved in the litigation with the VA after her
husband's death.
Stewart said she and other Wiccan family members can now rest and move
on after the widely publicized issue that lasted nearly two years.
Stewart put her personal life and grieving process on hold to fight a
battle her husband could not fight against the United States government.
Stewart served in the military as a Wiccan with the religion depicted on
his dog tags and in his military records.
"He (Patrick) fought for people in this country to have their freedoms,
yet he was denied his when he died fighting in a war," said Roberta.
"I'm happy that religious freedom has prevailed and soldiers who fight
and die for the freedoms of this county can be honored for their
religious beliefs - regardless of what they are."
Although Stewart was granted a plaque depicting the pentacle from the
Nevada Department of Veterans affairs in September 2006 at the Northern
Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Fernley, a year after her husband's
death. Until Monday, it still remained a non-approved symbol by the VA.
Following the placement of the memorial plaque by Nevada officials,
Stewart, along with families of fallen Wiccan soldiers and Circle
Sanctuary, began official litigation against James Nicholson, secretary
of the VA, the VA, William Tuerk, undersecretary for memorial affairs,
and U.S. Department of Memorial Affairs.
"We were negotiating and they (Veterans Affairs) knew we had
documentation that would embarrass them in court, showing the
discrimination," Stewart said during a phone interview. "One
documentation we had was from a speech made by President George Bush in
1999 saying Wicca is not a religion. We had enough documented proof that
the VA and President Bush could not pick and choose what religious
beliefs can and cannot be honored."
Prior to and throughout the court proceedings against the VA, Stewart
and Circle Sanctuary, a Wisconsin-based Wiccan church, had the support
of Nevada state and military officials.
"I'm pleased we can honor a fallen Nevada Guard member with the symbol
of the faith he practiced," said Maj. Gen. (Nev.) Cindy Kirkland, the
adjutant general of the Nevada National Guard Tuesday.
"Sen. Reid is glad that Sgt. Patrick Stewart's memorial is finally being
honored as he would have wanted," said Jon Summers, spokesman for U.S.
Sen. Harry Reid of Nevada in an e-mail. "This achievement helps mark a
symbolic closure for Roberta Stewart and other loved ones of troops who
have sacrificed their lives for our country."
The plaintiffs and other officials said they were pleased the case will
finally be over and freedom of religion was upheld in court.
"I'm happy that religious freedom has prevailed and soldiers who fight
and die for the freedoms of this county can be honored for their
religious beliefs regardless of what they are," said Tim Tetz, executive
director of Nevada Office of Veteran Services Tuesday.
According to the agreement, the pentacle must be added to the existing
38 approved emblems of belief listed by the VA immediately. All previous
applications where blank markers exist are to be replaced within 14
days. Current applications must be completed and granted within 30 days.
All applications after the 30 days of the agreement will follow the
regular VA process as an approved symbol.
As part of the stipulation, all documentation the plaintiffs had against
the VA or other officials had to be turned over to the U.S. government
and a $250,000 settlement paid to the plaintiffs for attorney fees.
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Larry Scott --
