2 posts tagged “va”
(The following is from an email sent out by Selena of Circle Sanctuary for the "Order of the Pentacle')
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Please help us get the following call out.
Thus far, the VA has been doing a good job of fulfilling terms of our
settlement. Markers with Pentacles are being produced and shipped quickly.
We are attempting to get as many markers with Pentacles ordered and
manifested in time for Memorial Day this year, May 28.
If you get multiple postings of this call, thanks for your understanding ...
we are sending it out in multiple ways in hopes of getting it out to those
who have a need but who have not yet contacted us.
Thank you!
Selena
URGENT CALL for Additional Veteran Markers with Pentacles
Tell others: Post to e-lists, blogs, and elsewhere.
If you know of a deceased Wiccan/Pagan veteran in need of a VA-issued
headstone, marker, or plaque with the Pentacle symbol, and would like
assistance with expedited production of it, please contact Rev. Selena Fox
of Circle Sanctuary by Wednesday, MAY 16, 2007 for more details.
email: liberty@circlesanctuary.org
phone: (608) 924-2216 (leave message)
Under the terms of the settlement agreement of the federal lawsuit, Circle
Sanctuary vs. Nicholson, negotiated by Americans United for Separation of
Church and State with attorneys representing the US Department of Veterans
Affairs (VA), those in need of a VA-issued memorial grave marker with
Pentacle to honor a deceased Wiccan/Pagan veteran can get expedited
treatment for marker production, if the completed marker application (VA
form 40-1330) is submitted to the VA by the next of kin within 30 days of
the settlement signing, which was on April 20.
After May 20, applications for veteran grave markers with Pentacles can
still be submitted to the VA, but the production of those markers will
revert to the customary timeframe, which usually takes one to two months.
Rev. Selena Fox, high priestess of Circle Sanctuary, is offering assistance
to families of deceased Wiccan/Pagan veterans in need of VA-issued grave
markers with the Pentacle. She is working directly with VA staff on
requests.
Selena presently knows of twelve requests, five of which have already been
fulfilled! As of May 1, two markers with Pentacles are at Circle Sanctuary
in Wisconsin and two are at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia. As of
May 2, one is at a cemetery in Tennessee. Other applications and markers
are in process.
A copy of the VA's marker application, Form 40-1330, is on-line at the VA
website, along with other information:
http://www.cem.va.gov/cem/hm_hm.asp
The Pentacle is emblem #37 on the VA's list of emblems of belief that can be
included on federal government-issued markers, headstones, & plaques:
http://www.cem.va.gov/cem/hm/hmemb.asp
A PDF of the settlement agreement (Circle Sanctuary vs. Nicholson) and other
information is at the Americans United for Separation of Church and State
website:
http://www.au.org/site/PageServer?pagename=legal_pentacle
For more information about the Veteran Pentacle Quest Success including
media news links, celebrations, photos, and photos of some veteran markers
with Pentacles:
http://www.circlesanctuary.org/liberty/veteranpentacle
press release issued by Lady Liberty League
Circle Sanctuary, PO Box 9, Barneveld, WI 53507 USA
email: liberty@circlesanctuary.org
phone: (608) 924-2216
fax: (608) 924-5961
web: http://www.circlesanctuary.org
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(The following is part of an email sent out by Selena of Circle Sanctuary for the "Order of the Pentacle" )
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VA PROPOSED RULES: We also now have directions for reviewing and sharing
concerns about the problems with the VA's proposed new regulations for
additions to the VA's list of emblems of belief that can be included on the
memorial markers, headstones, and plaques it provides to honor deceased
veterans.
See instructions:
http://www.circlesanctuary.org/liberty/veteranpentacle/VARuleComment.htm
We have a variety of concerns about these proposed procedures, including
(1) there is still no requirement that the VA make any decision on an emblem
of belief application, (2) there are no time limits for decision making on
applications, and (3) these procedures contain vague wording that seems to
permit the VA to continue to pick and choose which religions to accommodate
and which symbols to approve. Essentially, if these new procedures are
adopted, the Pentacle under these new rules could still be kept in limbo,
and maybe even rejected should a VA official deem our symbol not appropriate
for state and federal veteran cemeteries.
We think it is important that Wiccan and other Pagan veterans and those
presently serving in the military give input about these new procedures.
You do not need to disclose your religious orientation in contributing
comments. However, it would be helpful for you to state that you have had
past/present military service. The deadline for comments is March 20, 2007.
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