Government Sued Over Headstone Symbols

Yesterday the United States Department of Veterans Affairs was sued by the widows of two American soldiers who gave their lives for their country. It seems that the government won't allow the soldiers to have the symbol of their religion on their headstones.

The government allows 38 different symbols to be placed on the headstones of departed soldiers. These symbols include all the major religions such as Christianity, Islam, Judaism, and Buddhism. It also includes many other small and sometimes obscure religions such as Sufism and Eckiankar. There is even a symbol for atheists.

But the government will not allow the symbol for the Wiccan religion, sometimes referred to as Paganism. Their symbol is a pentacle -- a five-pointed star within a circle. The widows, Roberta Stewart and Karen DePolito, are sueing because they say denying the symbols is an unconstitutional act by the government.

There are 1,800 soldiers in our military that list Wicca as their preferred religion. These brave soldiers are doing the same dirty and dangerous job that all the other soldiers are doing, and they should be granted the same rights as all other soldiers. When they die for their country, their families should be allowed to place on their headstones the symbol of their religion.

The government is in the wrong on this issue, and it should not have to take a court case to show it. The military's job is not to recognize or dismiss any religion, but to honor their fallen heroes. These heroes should be honored by respecting the wishes of their families.

If we must have a list of "approved" symbols, then Wicca should be added to that list.