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The Pentacle
Symbol of Belief
View approved Symbols
The points of the Pentacle represent Earth, Air, Fire, Water, and Spirit, and symbolize the deep respect that Wiccans and Neo-Pagans feel for the natural world. |
Veterans' Pentacle Rights Initiative
is a long term project to secure our rights and combat discrimination through our spiritual expression, physical action, and active public education and support
Tenrikyo Church. Eckankar. Izumo Taishakyo. Sufism Reoriented. Athiest. The symbols of each of these faiths are just a few of the 38 emblems of belief that the Veteran's Administration allows on a soldier's tombstone in a federal cemetery. The Pentacle, symbol of the Wiccan faith, is not one of those permitted symbols. The US military considers Wicca a valid choice for identification or chaplaincy, while the VA does not allow Wiccan veterans to use the Pentacle on their grave sites or memorials.
Over nine years ago, Wiccan groups and individual Veterans began submitting the Pentacle as their symbol of belief to the VA for approval, rights most veterans already have. Once approved, these symbols are available for Veterans to select for addition to their official memorials in federal cemeteries. This national struggle has been been named, the Pentacle Quest.
During this period the Veterans Administration has
ignored the letters and applications of numerous families, groups, and veterans. It has delayed, changed application and qualification rules, and caused unspeakable pain to these Veterans and their families. The VA has approved at least 6 other symbols of belief with little delay during this period.
 Pentacle Quest history
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 We are new to this struggle !
Individual Veteran, Neopagans and Wiccans, their families, and support groups have been active in this struggle for over nine years. We certainly are not the experts. Only Veterans, denied their civil rights by the country they have served, can truly feel the pain and depth of this issue. They have simply already paid for the small token the approval of the pentacle as Symbol of Belief represents. Many have paid with their lives, some with their health, and many serve today.
Case of Sgt Patrick Stewart ~ View the Portrait
This Upper Midwest (we define that as between Madison,WI, Des Moine, IA, the Dakotas, and Canada ) expression of this national movement began in response to a press editorial where this issue was discussed. The author suggested he was better able to help resolve the issue of a pentacle appearing on a veteran's headstone than
Wiccans could, both as ineffective advocates for their own rights.
A call to action was made via the Internet to join together in a public ceremony to aid in the resolution of our rights in this matter. Secondarily it proposed to present Wicca/Neopaganism spitiuality publically, and join
regional groups together in action.
A Covenant of the Goddess poll conducted between 1999-2000 gives an estimated number of 768,400 Neo-Pagans in the United States, the largest subset of which were Wiccan. Currently, there are approximately 1,800 Wiccans on active duty in the U.S. Military.
Our veterans have fought bravely for our freedom.
Please return the favor as we fight for their civil rights!
The Formation of the UM Pagan Alliance
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