The Pentacle issue

From Nevada:

Over the years, families have used religious symbols such as the Jewish Star of David, the Christian cross and the Islamic crescent and star to honor their loved ones on headstones and markers. For Sgt. Patrick Stewart's family, the symbol of choice was also from his religion: the Wiccan pentacle.

But of all the symbols and faiths recognized by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Wicca and its emblem — a circle around a five-pointed star — are not among them.

The department is reviewing a request to include the symbol, but when a decision will come is unclear.

Neo-pagans have been trying to get the pentacle approved for over a decade now. Originally, the VA claimed that they would consider the request 'if the head of Wicca' requested it. This is kind of a way to say, 'hell, no - never', because of course there is no 'head of Wicca'. Since there's no 'head of Buddhism' or 'head of Christianity' per se, the only possible reason for demanding such an impossibility was to prevent Wiccan veterans (and others for whom the pentacle is their sacred symbol) from having their grave appropriately marked. Let's hope saner heads prevail this time.