United States Department of Veterans Affairs emblems for headstones and markers
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The U.S. Veterans Affairs seal.
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.
Contents
1 Procedure
2 Headstone and marker symbols
3 See also
4 References
5 External links
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]
Spanish–American War veteran in Cypress Hills National Cemetery
Medal of Honor recipient Anton Olsen in Cypress Hills National Cemetery
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 September 2017.[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 (†).
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
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (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
Atheist * **
USVA emblem 16
Muslim (Crescent and Star)
USVA emblem 17
Hindu *
USVA emblem 18
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
Sikh (Khanda)
USVA emblem 36
Wicca (Pentacle)
USVA emblem 37
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
Farohar †
USVA emblem 43
Messianic Jewish
USVA emblem 44
Kohen Hands Judaism
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
Infinity *
USVA emblem 49
Luther Rose †
USVA emblem 51
Landing Eagle
USVA emblem 52
Four Directions
USVA emblem 53
Church of Nazarene
USVA emblem 54
Hammer of Thor *
USVA emblem 55
[10]
Unification Church
USVA emblem 56
Sandhill Crane
USVA emblem 57
[11]
Church of God
USVA emblem 58
Pomegranate
USVA emblem 59
Messianic *
USVA emblem 60
Shinto *
USVA emblem 61
Sacred Heart
USVA emblem 62
African Ancestral Traditionalist (Nyame Ye Ohene)
USVA emblem 63
Maltese Cross
USVA emblem 64
Druid (Awen)
USVA emblem 65
Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod
USVA emblem 66
Polish National Catholic Church
USVA emblem 67
Muslim (Islamic 5 Pointed Star)
USVA emblem 98
[12]
See also
 | Wikimedia Commons has media related to Approved gravestone emblems of the USVA. |
- Religious symbolism in the United States military
- United States National Cemetery
- Religious symbolism
- Military Tombstone Abbreviations
- Pennant (church)
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.
^ ab 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.
^ ab 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.
External links
USVA – Some emblems (official form)- USVA – All available emblems
- Arlington National Cemetery – Emblems