Sgt. Patrick Stewart died on September 25, 2005 when his Chinook helicopter was brought down out of the sky by a rocket propelled grenade over Afghanistan.

He was an exceptional soldier. During his service in two wars, he earned the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart, the Air Medal, and more than 30 other medals and commendations.

Sgt. Stewart was a hero and died in service to his country. His memory should be honored in a fitting way, yet that is not what has happened.

Sgt. Stewart was a member of the Wiccan faith, but the Veterans Administration refuses to allow the symbol of his faith to be placed on his headstone or memorial marker.

For nine years, Wiccan leaders have been petitioning the VA to approve the symbol of the Wiccan religion - a five-pointed star within a circle - but the VA has refused. Despite the fact that they approved the religious symbols of 38 other religions and philosophical symbols to be placed on the headstones of deceased veterans, the VA continues to deny members of the Wiccan faith the same rights of religious freedom as they grant to everyone else.

The terrible irony is that Sgt. Stewart gave his life to his country and its ideals. One of those ideals is religious freedom for everyone. And it has been denied to him and his family left behind.

It is supremely disturbing that the VA does not recognize the injustice to which they are subjecting his widow, Roberta Stewart, and all the other Wiccan veterans who are being denied their basic constitutional rights.

Members of the US Congress, Americans United for the Separation of Church and State, the American Civil Liberties Union, the Lady Liberty League, and many other individuals and organizations have been putting enormous pressure on the VA to allow the Wiccans the same recognition allowed to everyone else.