Equality6: Convoys for Justice
by Charles Arnold

The American Pagan Veterans Headstone Campaign will be holding one or more Convoy(s) for Justice on November 11, 2005. The main convoy, Equality 6, will depart from Trenton, NJ, sight of a historic battle for American freedom, at 7:30 AM on November 11, and will follow US Route 1 to Interstate 95 through Philadelphia and Baltimore and reach its destination, Arlington National Cemetery by 10:30 AM that same morning. There, members of the convoy will rendezvous with others who have followed different routes, and proceed to the grave of Abe Kooiman, directly across from the Administration Building.

Assembling at the site of this fallen Pagan veteran of World War II, honors will be rendered and a Pentacle, matching the specifics required by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs will be affixed to his headstone. The convoy, now reinforced by those joining it at Arlington, will then proceed across the Potomac and into the District of Columbia where members will then visit and pay homage at the World War II memorial and the Vietnam Memorial.

Other Pagan groups are invited to create mirror events, honoring the lives, deaths and graves of fallen Pagan servicemen and women; openly and with pride.

The route of Equality 6, the main Convoy for Justice, is designed to remind all Americans of our history of justice, our freedom from religious persecution and the sacrifices of those who have served our country in uniform. Trenton was the site of a major victory in our struggle for independence. Philadelphia was the site for the creation and signing of our Declaration of Independence and the home of some of those who founded this country as well as a city that refused to persecute accused witches and heretics. Baltimore was the city where a major battle led to the cration of our national anthem, The Star Spangled Banner. And Arlington and Washington serve as major reminders, not only of the Civil War, and terrorist attacks upon our country but, also, of our struggle for Civil Rights and various demonstrations over the centuries that have shown us that we can affect our government's decisions.

We invite all of those who believe that religious discrimination is wrong, all veterans who know that the religion of the GI next to you is irrelevent, anyone who wishes to see this government treat all of us fairly, to join us and become part of our Convoy for Justice. We will be acting to demonstrate that Pagans have served their country in uniform, even making the ultimate sacrifice, and that in our deaths we deserve equal respect from our government. After all, "We served with equal valor, do we not deserve equal respect in our death?"

For more information, email charlesparnold@Yahoo.com or RitBodyArt@AOL.com; or call 215-428-1045.

Folks, please repost this message as widely as you can. Thank you.

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