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My Dragon's Lair Sharing is the reason for my being...

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Friday, June 29, 2007

JULY 4: Pentacle Headstone Dedication & Memorial with Selena Fox in D.C.


Circle Times circletimes@circlesanctuary.org wrote:
Join Pagans from many paths and places at these special events next week in Washington, DC & vicinity:
Wednesday, JULY 4: Pentacle Headstone Dedication & Memorial for Jan O'Rourke at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia, across from Washington, DC
Welcome at 9 am; Ceremony begins at 9:30 am.
Interfaith service facilitated by Selena Fox, assisted by Paula Johnson, Margot Adler, Marci Drewry, some members of Order of the Pentacle, and others.
http://www.circlesanctuary.org/liberty/veteranpentacle/4jul07dedication.htm
Pentacle headstone photo:
http://www.circlesanctuary.org/liberty/veteranpentacle/jorourke.htm
Wednesday, JULY 4: Pagan Religious Rights Rally in Lafayette Park, Washington, DC directly across from the White House & VA headquarters
Rally begins at Noon includes presentations, ritual, & drumming.
http://www.paganreligiousrights.org lead article at: http://www.witchvox.com
JULY 5-8: Ancestors, Runes, & Trance Chesapeake Pagan Community Summer Gathering at Camp Ramblewood in Darlington, Maryland with Diana Paxson, Steve McNallen, & Selena Fox at door registrations welcome http://www.chesapeakepagans.org

Circle Times: Thursday, June 28, 2007
4th of July Pentacle Headstone Dedication & Memorial for Jan Deanna O'Rourke
Arlington National Cemetery Arlington, Virginia

9 - 9:30 am: Gathering In
Sign the book of remembrance. Visit with others who are gathering for this special event.

9:30 am - 10:30 am: Memorial Service & Headstone Dedication
Interfaith ceremony conducted by Rev. Selena Fox, Senior Minister of Circle Sanctuary, with eulogy by Wiccan priestess Rev. Paula Johnson of Florida, colleague and friend of Jan O'Rourke. They will be assisted by some members of the Order of the Pentacle, a national Wiccan/Pagan veterans association, and others.

Participants are invited to bring a red, white, and/or blue flower to place at the base of the headstone in memory of Jan and her life of service.

Open to the public. Veterans and those on active duty in the US Armed Forces are invited to wear uniforms and/or dress hats.

About Jan O'Rourke:
Jan Deanna O'Rourke was born on March 4, 1958. Her adult life was one of service. A few days before she died, she expressed her last wish ... to be buried with her veteran husband, Captain O'Rourke, and to have the pentacle, the symbol of the Wiccan religion she practiced, inlcuded on her side. She died on February 24, 2005. Her request to have the pentacle on her headstone was at last fulfilled on May 1, 2007, as a result of the settlement of the Circle Sanctuary vs. Nicholson federal lawsuit: LINK: http://www.au.org/

About this Pentacle Headstone:
This headstone is the first VA-issued headstone at a national veterans cemetery that includes a pentacle along with another religious system. Jan's husband, Captain William O'Rourke, was a Christian veteran and his side of the stone has a Christian cross. She was Wiccan and her faith is represented by the pentacle on her side of the stone.

Location of O'Rourke Headstone: 60 7491

Directions to Arlington National Cemetery
http://www.arlingtoncemetery.org/directions.html

Visitor Information for Arlington National Cemetery
http://www.arlingtoncemetery.org/visitor_information/index.html

History of Arlington National Cemetery
http://www.arlingtoncemetery.org/historical_information/index.html

For more info, contact Circle Sanctuary: email: events@circlesanctuary.org (608) 924-2216

Back to Veteran Pentacle page (Circle Sanctuary)

Online: 10 years, 5 months and 8 days

This Week at Witchvox...

4th of July Pagan Religious Rights Rally and Ritual

by Caroline Kenner [Wvox Sponsor] [1,991 reads]

Pagan religious rights advocates spent more than ten years in a struggle to achieve the Veterans’ Pentacle victory. As we celebrate, we must ponder our next move in the quest for religious freedom. The Veterans’ Pentacle is a wonderful victory, but the longer campaign for universal religious freedom continues. And so, what should our next steps be? 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 ri... [more]

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posted by LadyIrene @ 6/29/2007 08:16:00 AM 0 comments

Monday, May 28, 2007

[circletimes] Wiccan Widows Speak about Memorial Day Dedication

[circletimes] Wiccan Widows Speak about Memorial Day Dedication of VA-issued Pentacle Gravestones for their Veteran Husbands
Widows of Wiccan Veterans to Dedicate Gravestones with Pentacles on Memorial Day near Barneveld, Wisconsin USA
On this day of national remembrance the story of three Wiccan widows and a Pentacle etched in stone is being told all over the world. Three widows, all members of Circle Sanctuary have gathered at church headquarters this weekend, and are reflecting upon their husbands, their lives, their deaths, and equal rights for the Wiccan religion.

*"Now that I've seen Jerome's burial site up close, I'm starting to really feel the accomplishment we've made. I'm very pleased with the gravestone at the Circle Cemetery site, and I believe he is as well."Karen DePolito of Utah widow of Jerome Birnbaum, Korean War Veteran

*"Douglas was Wiccan as long as he could remember. Having a pentacle on his gravestone and being recognized for who he is means the world to both of us. His remains are now at peace in their new home at Circle Cemetery. He fought for Freedom for twenty-four years and now, finally he is Free."Sandra Wilkey of Kentucky widow of Douglas Wilkey, Korean War & Vietnam War Veteran

*"Today is a great day, not only for myself, but for other Wiccan families. This Memorial Day at last I am having closure. Our fight for religious freedom is over, and my husband, Sgt. Patrick Stewart can rest in peace. For the first time since Patrick's death, I don't feel as if he died in vain. May all our soldiers be blessed and remembered on this very special Memorial Day.Roberta Stewart of Nevada widow of Sgt. Patrick Stewart, Desert Storm Veteran & Killed in Action in Operation Enduring Freedom

Reflections on the Memorial Day Wiccan Veteran Gravestone Dedication by Rev. Selena Fox, who will be facilitating the ceremony. She is Senior Minister of Circle Sanctuary and Executive Director of Circle Cemetery, Wisconsin's first conservation cemetery.

*This Memorial Day, we gather to remember and honor the lives and service of our veterans who have died and to dedicate their newly issued VA gravestones with pentacles. We gather to support their widows in finally bringing closure to marking the sites of their husband's remains at our church cemetery. We also gather to celebrate our victory in upholding religious freedom -- and to envision, pray and work for a world with liberty and justice for all.

Wiccans, Christians, and those of other faiths from Wisconsin, Ohio,Nevada, Minnesota, Michigan, Utah, Illinois, Kentucky, and elsewhereacross the nation are traveling to Barneveld, Wisconsin to take part in the nation's first Memorial Day Dedication of Wiccan veteran gravestones with pentacles.

On Memorial Day, Monday, May 28, the church will be open for arrivals at 9:30am. A press briefing will be held 10-10:30am. The Dedication will be held 11am-12:30pm and will be followed by a reception from 1-4 pm.

More Information & to schedule interviews: Rev. Selena Fox: (608) 924-2219
Circle Sanctuary: (608) 924-2216 http://www.circlesanctuary.org
For details about the Veteran Pentacle Quest religious freedom victory, achieved with the support of Americans United for Separation of Church and State: http://www.au.org/http://www.circlesanctuary.org/liberty/veteranpentacle
More details about Memorial Day Dedication:
http://www.circlesanctuary.org/liberty/veteranpentacle/memday07.htm
CNN International/Associated Press: May 27, 2007
http://edition.cnn.com/2007/US/05/27/memorialday.wiccans.ap/
Circle Times: Sunday, May 27, 2007

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posted by LadyIrene @ 5/28/2007 07:33:00 AM 0 comments

Sunday, May 27, 2007

[circletimes] Connect with Memorial Day Wiccan Veteran Gravestones Dedication


America's first Memorial Day dedication of Wiccan veteran gravestones with pentacles takes place at Circle Sanctuary headquarters in Wisconsin on Monday.
We invite you to join us in one or more of these ways:
ATTEND: The Memorial Day Dedication will be held on Monday, May 28 at Circle Cemetery at Circle Sanctuary Nature Preserve near Barneveld, Wisconsin. Wiccans, Pagans, and those of other paths from across the country will be at this event as well as media. More information: http://www.circlesanctuary.org/liberty/veteranpentacle/memday07.htm
Interested in attending? Contact us as soon as possible:

email: events@circlesanctuary.org; phone (leave message):(608) 924-2216.
ATTUNE: Do personal or group rituals and meditations in support of this event wherever you may be. Connect with us from 10 - 10:30am when we do our press briefing and from 11am - 1pm during the Dedication ritual.
Spiritually join in our celebration from 1 - 4 pm following the ceremony.
WELL WISHES: Convey your support to the Wiccan widows and their deceased combat veteran husband whose markers with pentacles will be dedicated on Memorial Day ... and to others taking part in the Dedication by submitting an email on-line:
http://www.circlesanctuary.org/liberty/veteranpentacle/memdaysurvey.htm
MEDIA NETWORKING: Post URLs of various media reports about the Dedication to websites, blogs, e-lists, etc. Post comments of support on-line at media websites. Forward URLs of media coverage to local, regional,national, and global media sources and encourage media to cover this historic event.
Sampling of media reports now on-line:
Widows of Wiccan veterans to participate in dedication ceremony Winona Daily News (May 26) http://www.winonadailynews.com/articles/2007/05/26/wi/01wiccan0526.txt
COMMENT: post at the end of the article Wiccans win right to put emblem on veterans' graves Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (May 26)

http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=610879
COMMENT: link to on-line forum & letters to editor at bottom of page Pentacle gets OK for use on gravemarkers Capital Times (May 25) http://www.madison.com/tct/news/136433
COMMENT: following the article
For articles in other media sources, do a Google News search for Wiccan pentacle and follow links.
Please forward this email on to others you know who may be interested in joining in the Dedication in one or more ways. Thank you! Circle Times: Saturday, May 26, 2007

(This is detailed. All I would say is it is our sign of being connected to our 5 elements, Our link to Our Mother Earth and God/dess, and I include Spirit. This symbol has been in many countries through out history.)
Pentagram - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A pentagram (sometimes known as pentalpha or pentangle) is the shape of a five-pointed star drawn with five straight strokes.

Pentagrams: Meaning and History
A reference file from the alt.magick hierarchy.


REF: Pentagrams (meaning, history, etc.)

[Grand Lodge] The pentagram, Notes, citations and references (This is a long read with many details.)

Military views of Wicca, Witchcraft and Paganism www.wicca.com/celtic/wicca/military.htm Wicca is currently the fastest growing spiritual path in the U.S.) Military Views on Wicca - US Army Chaplain's Manual


Excerpt from the U.S. Army's Religious Requirements and Practices of Certain Selected Groups: A Handbook for Chaplains (pgs 231-236).

Another explanation can be found in this illustration.

Mandarin Words > < The Five Elements Chinese symbols: fire, earth, wood, water Found on Geomancy.net Strict copyright.

Alternative Religions on About.com Stict copyrited Only link supplied.

Notice: this article is copyrighted. Please do not copy any part to any webpage, newsgroup, Book of Shadows, etc., other than a brief excerpt and link.

Please respect the artists and authors.

Pentagram found on Google ElectricWitch.com

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posted by LadyIrene @ 5/27/2007 09:08:00 AM 0 comments