Veteran Pentacle: The Next Step

Now that the VA has settled its suit, and the Pentacle symbol for veteran’s grave stones and markers has been approved, Pagan leaders and activists are focusing on the next steps.

“We have seen how long it took to get the Pentacle. Surely we can manifest continued focus on Pagan religious rights issues, so that we don’t wait another ten years for our next victory. We need to voice a further agenda for Pagan religious rights now, while America still remembers that a department of the federal government stonewalled the Pentacle for political reasons. And we need to voice our demand for religious freedom publicly, and invite the media to attend as well … Now that we have won the Pentacle, there are many other issues to put forward. Advocating a military chaplain in the U.S. Armed Forces is one of the most pressing issues. Adding the symbols of more Pagan denominations to those religious emblems approved by the Department of Veterans Affairs is another vital issue.”

A mass-rally and ritual is being planned for July 4th in Lafayette Square Park, in front of the White House and catty-corner to the Department of Veterans Affairs. Speaking about the need for a Pagan military chaplain will be Rev. J. Michael Akins, executive director of the Military Pagan Network and Marci Drewry from the Sacred Well Congregation. The Sacred Well Congregations (based in Texas) was recently dealt a setback in the quest for a Pagan military chaplain when a perfect candidate was sabotaged through military “catch-22s”.

“On July 6, [Don Larsen] applied to become the first Wiccan chaplain in the U.S. armed forces, setting off an extraordinary chain of events. By year’s end, his superiors not only denied his request but also withdrew him from Iraq and removed him from the chaplain corps, despite an unblemished service record…Larsen, 44, blames only himself. He said he was naive to think he could switch from Pentecostalism to Wicca in the same way that chaplains routinely change from one Christian denomination to another.”

In addition to rallying for a Pagan chaplain, representatives from A Druid Fellowship (ADF), The Troth, and the Asatru Folk Assembly will be present to ramp up efforts to have two more modern Pagan symbols approved for military headstones and markers. The Thor’s Hammer, and the Awen.

“Steve McNallen of the Asatru Folk Assembly will speak about Thor’s Hammer: ‘Modern-day Asatru has a very high percentage of veterans. We’ve worn the hammer amulet into combat. It’s only right that the same symbol be on our headstones.’ Rev. Skip Ellison, Archdruid of Ar nDraoicht Fein, will speak about the Druids’ Awen symbol. Skip points out ‘It is important to remember that freedom of religion means freedom for all religions to worship as they choose.’ Diana L. Paxson [from The Troth], acclaimed author and Pagan Elder, will lead us in circle as we invoke the Founders of Our Nation. This will be the first public Pagan ritual in Lafayette Square Park, in the President’s front yard.”

Also, the Rev. Barry W. Lynn, executive director of Americans United for Separation of Church and State and Selena Fox from Circle Sanctuary will be there to talk about the Veteran Pentacle victory.

“Selena proposes continued unity of action among diverse Pagan groups for religious liberty: “United We Stand. United We Win!” Selena and her Pagan rights group the Lady Liberty League will continue the struggle on behalf of all Pagans nationally.”

It is heartening to see such unity of purpose among these groups. The victory over the government on the Pentacle issue seems to have galvanized the larger modern Pagan community into action, especially now that winning doesn’t seem so far-fetched. One wonders how much larger this coalition will get, will we see more reconstructionist groups join in, or larger eclectic Pagan associations like the Fellowship of Isis? In any event, it looks like these Pagan groups are smartly building on the momentum and press already generated by the Veteran Pentacle Quest, and may give rise to greater cooperation among our diverse faiths in future religious rights cases.