They are good enough to die for their country but not to get a memorial like everyone else?

No, it's not right.

I don't care if he worshiped Bozo the friggin' Clown.

He was a SOLDIER.

He was a SOLDIER THAT DIED FOR HIS COUNTRY.

If Wicca was his religion....so be it.

What religion are they going to deny next?

Slowly our freedoms are being taken from us.

It's time to stop!

The military recognizes the Wiccan faith. I have personally known (Christian) military Chaplains who have provided assistance to the Wiccan (military) community in the excercizing of their faith.

I also know that they will give you certain days off for religious observation, they just have to run a request chit (it's no promise that you will get the day off, just as not all Christians in the military get, say, Easter off though).

There are at least 2 Wiccans that work for my husband, and he even has a calendar that shows all the "important days" for all the "major" religions, so he can make sure that it is, in fact, a legitimate request for a day off, and not just that someone is trying to get a free day, and Wiccan is included on it.

Unfortunately, the Veterans Affairs isn't ran by the military, it's ran by Polititians, so the same freedoms that you have while serving doesn't carry over once you get out or are killed. (Example - it is illegal for a Vet to hire a lawyer to help them navigate the VA system - that law has been on the books since the Civil War and is still being enforced.)

My point with this is yes, it's discriminatory, but I don't think it's so much an issue of religion or religious freedom as it is a sluggish, set in their ways mentality in the VA system.

Hopefully this will be resolved soon and his family will be able to have their wishes honored (and their beliefs respected).

It is going to happen, it just takes time! I'm not sure why anyone is making a big deal out of this. The higher powers have already said it will happen, now its just a matter of navigating the bloated bureaucracy. I'm sure they're sorry they didn't have a warehouse full of Wiccan symbology for his grave site, but I'll be willing to bet all of the other religious groups had to wait the same amount of time for their requests to come to fruition. (I mean, c'mon, this is the GOVERNMENT we're talking about here. They have to have several subcommittee meetings just to decide on single vs. double ply in the bathroom)

Yeah its sad. Another example of religious intolerance out of control. You would think that if Christians were such good people or acted in a way that followed their religious values they would embrace everybody no matter what. Religious intolerance is nice and rampant here in the ole U.S.A., but its worse when you give your life for the country and your beliefs aren't even ' good enough ' to be recognized.

But he is getting the same memorial as everyone else, they aren't denying him that.

The 1st amendment says that "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof..."

They aren't prohibiting their free excercise of their religion. They can have a plaque with a wiccan symbol on it if they want. Just not a government issued one.

isnt it so incredibly wierd that people fascinated with the movie star wars can get thier jedi symbol on a military grave but the oldest religion in the world cannot? yes the military will put a symbol for a jedi knight but wont put the pentacle on for a witch! what kind of politicians are we idiots putting into office? why do we allow this christian biggoted goverment to continue?

Its most definitely discrimination!! How could someone deny something such as that? Isn't that why everyone has fought in wars?? To give us the freedom we so righteously deserve. This is very disrespectful and unbelievable.

It is a disgrace! Freedom of religion is a cherished right that he fought to defend. It is simply outrageous.

we dont do enough for our soilders our country takes them for granted something needs to be done

nah