United States Department of Veterans Affairs emblems for headstones and markers
The United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) maintains many cemeteries specifically devoted to veterans. Most have various rules regarding what must take place in order to be interred there.
Procedure
The VA only permits graphics on government-furnished headstones or markers that are approved emblems of belief, the Civil War Union Shield (including those who served in the U.S. military through the Spanish–American War), the Civil War Confederate Southern Cross of Honor, and the Medal of Honor insignia. Arlington National Cemetery has similar restrictions on headstones, though it is maintained by US Department of the Army.
The religious symbols are rendered as simple inscriptions without sculptural relief or coloring other than black. The emblem of belief is an optional feature.[1]
Generally the VA adds a new symbol a few months after receiving a petition from a faith group.[2] However, the Wiccan symbol was only added in 2007 to settle a lawsuit filed on behalf of several families by Americans United for the Separation of Church and State in November 2006.[2][3][4] A separate parallel lawsuit was filed on behalf of two Wiccan churches and three families by the American Civil Liberties Union in September 2006, which was resolved by the same settlement.[5][6][7]
The first interfaith headstone, which includes a Wiccan pentacle for Jan Deanna O'Rourke and a Presbyterian Cross for her husband, was installed at Arlington National Cemetery on May 1, 2007, and dedicated on July 4, 2007.[8]
-
Unknown veteran of the Confederate States of America, Beechgrove, Tennessee
-
Medal of Honor recipient Anton Olsen, Cypress Hills National Cemetery
-
Gravesites at Fort Logan National Cemetery, Memorial Day 2006
Headstone and marker symbols
The following emblems and emblem numbers are publicized as available for government headstones and markers as of May 2024.[9] A process is in place to consider approving additional religious or belief system emblems requested by the families of individuals eligible for these headstones and markers.[9]
Each emblem is given its official USVA name and designation, with added additional links for related symbolism (*) and for related movements (†). Explanatory footnotes are provided where symbols' meanings are not immediately apparent.
-
Lutheran Cross
USVA emblem 06 -
Episcopal Cross
USVA emblem 07 -
Aaronic Order Church
USVA emblem 10 -
Serbian Orthodox
USVA emblem 13 -
Greek Cross
USVA emblem 14 -
Konko-Kyo Faith
USVA emblem 19 -
Community of Christ
USVA emblem 20 -
Sufism Reoriented
USVA emblem 21 -
Tenrikyo Church
USVA emblem 22 -
Seicho-no-Ie
USVA emblem 23 -
Church of World Messianity
USVA emblem 24 -
United Church of Religious Science
USVA emblem 25 -
Christian Reformed Church
USVA emblem 26 -
United Moravian Church
USVA emblem 27 -
Eckankar
USVA emblem 28 -
Christian Church
USVA emblem 29 -
Christian & Missionary Alliance
USVA emblem 30 -
United Church of Christ
USVA emblem 31 -
Presbyterian Church (USA)
USVA emblem 33 -
Izumo Taishakyo Mission of Hawaii
USVA emblem 34 -
Soka Gakkai International (USA)
USVA emblem 35 -
Lutheran Church Missouri Synod
USVA emblem 38 -
New Apostolic
USVA emblem 39 -
Seventh Day Adventist Church
USVA emblem 40 -
Celtic Cross
USVA emblem 41 -
Messianic Jewish
USVA emblem 44 -
Medicine Wheel
USVA emblem 48 -
Landing Eagle
USVA emblem 52 -
Four Directions
USVA emblem 53 -
Church of Nazarene
USVA emblem 54 -
Unification Church
USVA emblem 56 -
Church of God
USVA emblem 58 -
Pomegranate
USVA emblem 59 -
Sacred Heart
USVA emblem 62 -
Maltese Cross
USVA emblem 64 -
Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod
USVA emblem 66 -
Polish National Catholic Church
USVA emblem 67 -
Guardian Angel
USVA emblem 68 -
Heart
USVA emblem 69 -
Shepherd and Flag[c]
USVA emblem 70 -
African Methodist Episcopal (AME)
USVA emblem 71 -
Evangelical Lutheran Church
USVA emblem 72 -
Universalist Cross
USVA emblem 73 -
Faith and Prayer
USVA emblem 74 -
Ichthys
USVA emblem 75 -
Nichiren Shoshu Temple
USVA emblem 76 -
Dove of Peace
USVA emblem 77 -
Kingian Faith
USVA emblem 78
Notes
- ^ The sandhill crane (Antigone canadensis) was used by Linda Campbell, the first homosexual soldier to receive burial rights for a same-sex spouse; it was said to symbolize "the ability of a soul to move between worlds, realms, times, traditions, and elements."[11][12][13]
- ^ An Adinkra symbol; the name is Akan for "God is King."
- ^ Depicts a German shepherd and American flag[14][failed verification]
See also
- Pennant (church)
- Religious symbolism
- Religious symbolism in the United States military
- United States National Cemetery System
- List of military tombstone abbreviations
References
- ^ "Arlington National Cemetery > Funerals > Scheduling a Funeral > Headstones and Niche Covers > Government Headstone/Niche Covers".
White marble niche covers (15¾ x 11¼ x ¼) generally contain 11 lines of text with or without an optional emblem of belief.
- ^ a b Banerjee, Neela (April 24, 2007). "Use of Wiccan Symbol on Veterans' Headstones Is Approved". The New York Times. Retrieved August 1, 2013. The VA added emblem of belief #37 – "WICCA (Pentacle)".
- ^ "Veterans Affairs Department Must Accommodate Wiccan Symbol On Memorial Markers At Government Cemeteries, Says Americans United" (Press release). AU. June 8, 2006. Retrieved July 11, 2007.
- ^ "Stewart v. Nicholson". AU. Retrieved August 5, 2013.
- ^ "Veterans Denied Right to Post Religious Symbol on Headstones, ACLU Charges" (Press release). ACLU. September 29, 2006. Retrieved 5 August 2013.
- ^ Goodstein, Laurie (September 30, 2006). "Pagans Sue on Emblem for Graves". The New York Times. Retrieved August 1, 2013.
- ^ "Veterans Win Right to Post Religious Symbol on Headstones" (Press release). ACLU. April 23, 2007. Retrieved 5 August 2013.
- ^ Blackwell, Christopher (2007). "A First Dedication at Arlington". Action. Archived from the original on 2010-12-13. Retrieved August 5, 2013.
- ^ a b National Cemetery Administration (2013-07-03). "Available Emblems of Belief for Placement on Government Headstones and Markers – National Cemetery Administration". Cem.va.gov. Retrieved 2013-08-24.
- ^ Brownlee, John (July 9, 2013). "How Thor's Hammer Made Its Way Onto Soldiers' Headstones". Fast Company Design.
- ^ a b Francis, Mike (July 1, 2013). "Coming to VA cemetery headstones: the Sandhill Crane". The Oregonian. Retrieved October 20, 2013.
- ^ "The Stories Behind The Symbols On Vets' Headstones". NPR.org.
- ^ "With You Always: Letters to My Wife". freedomtomarry.org. Freedom to Marry. September 2013. Retrieved 2021-08-05.
- ^ "Families Express Grief After Gravesite Memorabilia is Removed". October 16, 2020.
External links
- Media related to Approved gravestone emblems of the United States Department of Veterans Affairs at Wikimedia Commons
- USVA National Cemetery Administration: Available Emblems of Belief for Placement on Government Headstones and Markers
- USVA Form 40-1330: Claim for Standard Government Headstone or Marker
- Arlington National Cemetery – Emblems