Pentacle's OK for veterans' graves no mere symbolic victory

[icymist]

SALEM , Mass. — Jerrie Hildebrand spent a good part of her afternoon Monday fielding media inquiries and congratulatory messages from witches.

"I knew something was brewing over the weekend," said Hildebrand, a Salem resident and Wiccan priestess. "Then this morning the reality hit, and it's been e-mail city ever since."

Hildebrand was celebrating Monday's announcement to add the Wiccan pentacle to the list of emblems allowed in national cemeteries and on government-issued headstones of fallen soldiers.

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.

For Hildebrand, the decision represents an important victory after years of petitioning the government, attending rallies and trying to clear up misconceptions about the Wiccan symbol of faith.
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[Marrah_G]

1. This is such an important victory

There should have never have been an issue in the first place. There are MANY Wiccan men and women in the military and they deserve the same amount of respect as everyone else.

This was all about fear and ignorance on the part of our leaders.

Congrats to all our Brother and Sister soldiers.

[icymist]

2. Indeed. Because of this ruling, Wicca is now becoming a main-stream religion.

Especially since the military recognizes it so.

[Marrah_G]

3. It was nice to see it on MSM in a positive light

I have one friend especially that I think of when I saw this. He's done time in Bosnia and Iraq, he is openly Wiccan and very dedicated to his faith. To think that if he were to be killed his faith would be ignored just broke my heart.

Now if we can just get folks to stop using the Pentagram in horror movies......ahhh one can dream.