This morning I made an entry concerning the US government and Freedom of Religion. I just stumbled over additional information that explains the VA’s reluctance to allow the religious symbol on grave markers:

[…] At a news conference in Washington, Lynn said that federal documents uncovered during the litigation showed that the personal beliefs held by President Bush influenced the VA’s refusal to allow the pentacle on grave markers. In a 1999 ABC News “Good Morning America” segment about Wiccan ceremonies being allowed at Fort Hood in Texas, Bush, then the governor of Texas, said, “I don’t think witchcraft is a religion. I would hope the military officials would take a second look at the decision they made.” “This then shows up in documents in this administration, noting that any decision will be – in one word used – political,” Lynn said. “It’s clear to us that there were political, not constitutional considerations.” […]

You only have to squint a little to see this an an extension of step five.