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.
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.
Generally the VA adds a new symbol a few months after receiving a petition from a faith group.[1] 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.[1][2][3] 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.[4][5][6]
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.[7]
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Medal of Honor recipient Anton Olsen in Cypress Hills National Cemetery
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Gravesites at Fort Logan National Cemetery during Memorial Day 2006
Headstone and marker symbols
The following emblems and emblem numbers are publicized as available for Government headstones and markers as of October 2015.[8] 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.[8]
Each emblem is given its official USVA name and designation, with added additional links for related symbolism (*) and for related movements (†).
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Latin (Christian) Cross† USVA emblem 01 -
Buddhist (Wheel of Righteousness) USVA emblem 02 -
Judaism (Star of David) USVA emblem 03 -
Presbyterian Cross* USVA emblem 04 -
Russian Orthodox Cross*† USVA emblem 05 -
Lutheran Cross USVA emblem 06 -
Episcopal Cross USVA emblem 07 -
Unitarian Church/Unitarian Universalist Association* USVA emblem 08 -
United Methodist Church* USVA emblem 09 -
Aaronic Order Church USVA emblem 10 -
Mormon (Angel Moroni) USVA emblem 11 -
Native American Church of North America* USVA emblem 12 -
Serbian Orthodox USVA emblem 13 -
Greek Cross USVA emblem 14 -
Bahai (9 Pointed Star) USVA emblem 15 -
Muslim (Crescent and Star) USVA emblem 17 -
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 (Izunome) 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 -
Humanist* (American Humanist Association) USVA emblem 32 -
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 Church USVA emblem 39 -
Seventh Day Adventist Church USVA emblem 40 -
Celtic Cross USVA emblem 41 -
Armenian Cross† USVA emblem 42 -
Messianic Jewish USVA emblem 44 -
Kohen Hands† USVA emblem 45 -
Catholic Celtic Cross† USVA emblem 46 -
The First Church of Christ, Scientist (Cross and Crown) USVA emblem 47 -
Medicine Wheel USVA emblem 48 -
Luther Rose† USVA emblem 51 -
Four Directions USVA emblem 53 -
Church of Nazarene USVA emblem 54 -
Hammer of Thor* USVA emblem 55 [9] -
Unification Church USVA emblem 56 -
Sandhill Crane USVA emblem 57 [10] -
Church of God USVA emblem 58 -
Pomegranate USVA emblem 59 -
Muslim (Islamic 5 Pointed Star) USVA emblem 98 [11]
See also
- United States National Cemetery
- Religious symbolism
- Military Tombstone Abbreviations
- Religious symbolism in the United States military
References
- ^ 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. 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.
- ^ Francis, Mike (July 1, 2013). "Coming to VA cemetery headstones: the Sandhill Crane". The Oregonian. Retrieved October 20, 2013. The VA added emblem of belief #57 – "Sandhill Crane".
- ^ "Religious Design Gallery / 040-Islamic 5-Pointed Star". Family Bronze.