On April 23, after 10 years of campaigning by the Pagan community, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) approved the pentacle for use on Pagan headstones.

The approval came as the result of a lawsuit brought by Americans United for Separation of Church and State and Circle Sanctuary on behalf of two Circle Sanctuary members, both widows of war veterans. The VA had a list of 38 approved symbols which could be put on veterans' headstones after their deaths, including multiple symbols for Christianity, some for non-mainstream religions like Baha'i and Eckanar, and even an atom representing athiesm. However, multiple applications for the pentacle by the families of Wiccan soldiers were either denied outright or put on hold under years of red tape.  

The agreement to allow pentacles to be used on veteran headstones was part of the lawsuit settlement. Under the terms of the settlement, pentacles would be added to the list of approved symbols immediately; outstanding requests had to be fulfilled within 14 days, and new ones have to be approved on an expedited basis. The government will also pay the plaintiffs $225,000 in attorney's fees. In return, the plaintiffs were required to turn all documents relating to the case over the government. According to a report in the Washington Post, government officials were concerned that the documents would prove a political motivation for denying the use of pentacles.

  

Among the parties who will benefit from the settlement is Kathleen Egbert, daughter of Abraham and Rosemary Kooiman. Rosemary Kooiman campaigned with the Pagan Veterans Headstone Project after Abraham, a World War II veteran, died in 2002. Rosemary died in March 2006 and was buried with her husband in Arlington National Cemetary. Both of them will now have pentacles on their headstones.  

If you know a veteran who would like a pentacle on his or her headstone, or would like more information about the case, visit www.circlesanctuary.org .