European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - November 26, 1987, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Thursday november 26, 1987 the stars and stripes Page 9 you say you re a Witch and people Back  .  Bureau Sembach a Germany on 1 he last thursday of november americans feast in Honor of those who fled religious persecution in Europe to form a new nation a nation founded on the belief thai each individual has the right id worship As he or she sees i. Even witches you say you re a Witch and people Back up and go. Of no Whai arc Jou going to do to me " said staff sgt. Lorie a. Johnson a wide band communications specialist Wilh inc 601st tac control Wing at sem Bach. Johnson is a Follower of the wiccan religion and has helped form inc far wander military Pogan Fellowship. The goal is to Lei military pagans know they re nol  Johnson said. Johnson is among inc unknown number of witches in the military stationed in Europe. She and others who share her beliefs Are asking thai they be Given the same considerations As others. They want Lime off for their religious holidays. They want dog tags that stale i hair religious preference a Pagan or w Icca. A and they want u understanding of their beliefs by military chaplains. Air Force officials in Europe acknowledge the rights of pagans and witches o worship but would Noi go much further in addressing the Issue. Safe would rather not comment on. Witches or pagans said Doug Moore a Safe spokesman. Wedo nol maintain records on these individuals and therefore it is not in our Busl interest to  Usa eur officials do nol keep labs on witches either but they Point out that other religions Are not Given Lime off for holidays either. According to the supreme court even Christmas is called a secular Holiday said chaplain col Don Ald w. Shea Usa eur Chaphin. The chaplain said that in May appear the military docs not care for he needs of which is other pagans and other religions As Well. Can buddhists have heir religious needs met in the military we have no Buddhist chaplains he said. But army Chapel resources Art still available to wic Cai with a valid request. Shea said if it s not to he detriment of the health of the  Many military witches feel thai if people would take the time to understand hem they would find that they have nothing to eat. We Are rot evil said Sot. Lavern run. 2fl4ih Mico 709th my in i both my brigade Frankfurt. We have never been evil. We Are very told rank of others and we want others 10 be tolerant of us. People Are misinformed about what witches arc because Dur ing the Middle Ages the Church could t adapt to us. Soil created a myth about  he said some of the negative stereotypes people have regarding the wiccan arc inc old hags with warts on their noses and the Black dress of witches " do have a Broom but i Don t ride it said John  is a Witch although she prefers to be called a wiccan. Wiccan. Like i Loci pug he unit pc Hie of Al gods As Well As the oneness of All Wilh nature Neo pagans a Compa is the wiccan. The druids the goddess worshippers the people who worship the nordic celtic pantheons the ancient egyptian pantheons and native american beliefs Johnson said. We All share the same Basic reverence for nature. Thai is the common  witches in the military also share the common feel ing that they Musl often worship in secrecy. A Situa Tion which they Hope to rectify. The military s he Pinnacle of what we believe in Freedom of religion so Why Are we afraid to reveal our beliefs Buntz said. Buntz considers himself a Good Soldier and said he has not had any trouble being a Witch during i four years in the army. He said that when lie was inthe states his commander did not like the idea of his being a Wilch. Contrary to what Many May think which is arc not in league with evil spirits Johnson said. We Don t make any kind of pacts with any outside forces Good or bad she said. Witches believe thai there is Power inherent in everything. And since they also believe in a oneness wit nature any Force that is called upon is a Force that is shared from within not conjured up from the outside they re Powers like specific radio frequencies Johnson said. " Well let s Lune in to 111? Megahertz because this one is the most beneficial for Healing thai 107 Megahertz instead of being 107 Megahertz is called  the rituals that Many non pagans May find frighten ing Are nothing More than a concentration of those Powers to perform a specific function Johnson said. Most of our rituals have to do with Healing. Trying to adjust our minds toward goals and ideas she said. Wiccan Lorid a. Johnson in a typical Healing ritual a Circle is cast and All the Powers of inc individuals in the Circle arc concentrated and aimed at Healing someone who is ill. The Power is built up if you will through either Achan or a dance or humming or just Plain old. Good old fashioned concentrating and saying hey you re going to be feeling better and the Energy is build 10 a Peak and then released. In a Healing instance it s re leased to a  Johnson said. Witches do not rely solely on their Powers to heal. We always make sure that we go and take care of the problems thai we have with proper hospitals but we kind of add to it. If you will Johnson said. Military witches in Europe Are trying to Lake care of the problem of their recognition through proper Chan Nels. They Are hoping to change the image they feel burdened Wilh and become More widely accepted. Johnson spoke for the military witches in and out of hiding when she said that she feels the Force is with  stall Britni Connie off a Corll in told 10 Fri of port it takes some Grace to Cook gis a Holiday meal Byton Nauroth Nuernberg Bureau Roetz Germany when 2nd army Cav regl Border guards say Grace at their thanksgiving tables this afternoon part of their thanks will go to pvt. 2 Michael Grace. Grace is one of three Cooks stationed at Camp Reed 12 Miles from the czechoslovakian Border. Under the direction of dining facility manager staff sgt. Oil is Miller Grace pfc. Ronnie Currie and spec 4 James Duhart faced a 17-hour thanksgiving that began Long before the roosters were stirring in the Village below the Camp. Grace usually helps prepare the nor Mal fare baloney and cheese Sand Wiches along with fresh fruit and vegetables served in cardboard boxes which go on patrol Wilh a ground surveillance radar team somewhere along the Border somewhere out in the dark. At 19, Grace is the youngest and least experienced Cook at the Camp. He said thai on thanksgiving his mind would be on the troops but his heart would be in a three bedroom Home at 11 oth place in los Angeles. He said his Mother. Patricia Betton would bring v sex Ira tables into the Flower Wall papered dining room where 12 members of the family would gather one less than usual. This is his first  away from Home. But he had a hand in putting on a thanksgiving dinner at Camp Reed for 70 guests and family members bused Sas Praio by Tony Nau Roin thanksgiving dinner no problem for staff sat. Attis ill Ltd. Pfc. Ronnie Currie and pvt i Michael Grace in Camp Reed near the czech Border. From their 3rd so Home in Amberg. The menu does not differ too much from thanksgiving Day offerings at Din ing facilities throughout Europe roast Turkey basted in its own juices glazed Sweet potatoes state of beef baked Ham Wilh glazing com bread dressing Corn on the cob mashed potatoes and Honey glazed Cornish Bens. Bui the Border Cooks were planning to add their own touches. Duhart a 23-year-old from Little Rock ark., reputedly has a Talent for whipping up sauces that make tongues wag Days after the lasting. Diners might begin with his shrimp cocktail a la Duhart. On tuesday night Currie 21, from Plainfield n.j., practice his specially designed to add visual flavor in the form of garnishes sculpted from fruits and vegetables. He carved swans out of apples and constructed Coconut Trees by combining carrots and Green peppers. We go through a lot of  he said we just Don l eat very  Miller. 46, from Valdos ga., is the old Man of the group. When he reflect Dnn Bis 14 Yean of preparing thanksgiving meals for soldiers he realized he never spent one Al Home with Hii own family. He has always cooked for Large groups usually Soulien. Soldiers will eat anything he said tuesday night but i be got to really Beon my toes thursday because the wives will hold me accountable for a tasty meal. They re inc  first it. Al Marte is Only half As old As Miller. His Job is to assign men to patrol the Border. He shifts the schedule to keep the Guys on the East Side of the Fence off balance to keep them guessing about what those on the Wost Side Are up , from Syracuse n.y., scheduled the thanksgiving patrols so thai All his men would be at the table when Grace was said. But after the meal some of them still would have to drag full bellies along the Border. Grace planned to Call Home wednes Day night and Lalk to his Fiancee and to his i month Oid son Michael Grace or. He also planned to Lalk to his Mother. Ill Tell her i m of and since i am of Shell know it. 1 never could fool mom. She hears it in my  he added that while he might be lonely thanksgiving he Al least would not be alone. These Guys these Cooks arc m family this year he began then Bis Pieart leaped from inc Border with the East to the West coast. I think what i la miss Mast of All Are the Lowers on the Marble topped table in the living  in years past he could see them from his chair at his Mother s table. Mom s a Florist he said. I know Shell have something special there