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]
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 February 2021.[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 01Buddhist (Wheel of Righteousness)
USVA emblem 02Judaism (Star of David)
USVA emblem 03Presbyterian Cross *
USVA emblem 04Russian Orthodox Cross * †
USVA emblem 05Lutheran Cross
USVA emblem 06Episcopal Cross
USVA emblem 07Unitarian Church/Unitarian Universalist Association *
USVA emblem 08United Methodist Church *
USVA emblem 09Aaronic Order Church
USVA emblem 10The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Angel Moroni)
USVA emblem 11Native American Church of North America *
USVA emblem 12Serbian Orthodox
USVA emblem 13Greek Cross
USVA emblem 14Bahai (9 Pointed Star)
USVA emblem 15Muslim (Crescent and Star)
USVA emblem 17Konko-Kyo Faith
USVA emblem 19Community of Christ
USVA emblem 20Sufism Reoriented
USVA emblem 21Tenrikyo Church
USVA emblem 22Seicho-no-Ie
USVA emblem 23Church of World Messianity (Izunome)
USVA emblem 24United Church of Religious Science
USVA emblem 25Christian Reformed Church
USVA emblem 26United Moravian Church
USVA emblem 27Eckankar
USVA emblem 28Christian Church
USVA emblem 29Christian & Missionary Alliance
USVA emblem 30United Church of Christ
USVA emblem 31Humanist * (American Humanist Association)
USVA emblem 32Presbyterian Church (USA)
USVA emblem 33Izumo Taishakyo Mission of Hawaii
USVA emblem 34Soka Gakkai International – USA
USVA emblem 35Sikh (Khanda)
USVA emblem 36Lutheran Church Missouri Synod
USVA emblem 38New Apostolic Church
USVA emblem 39Seventh Day Adventist Church
USVA emblem 40Celtic Cross
USVA emblem 41Armenian Cross †
USVA emblem 42Farohar †
USVA emblem 43Messianic Jewish
USVA emblem 44Kohen Hands Judaism
USVA emblem 45Catholic Celtic Cross †
USVA emblem 46The First Church of Christ, Scientist (Cross and Crown)
USVA emblem 47Medicine wheel
USVA emblem 48Luther Rose †
USVA emblem 51Landing Eagle
USVA emblem 52Four Directions
USVA emblem 53Church of Nazarene
USVA emblem 54Hammer of Thor *
USVA emblem 55
[10]Unification Church
USVA emblem 56Sandhill Crane
USVA emblem 57
[11]Church of God
USVA emblem 58Pomegranate
USVA emblem 59Messianic *
USVA emblem 60Sacred Heart
USVA emblem 62African Ancestral Traditionalist (Nyame Ye Ohene)
USVA emblem 63Maltese Cross
USVA emblem 64Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod
USVA emblem 66Polish National Catholic Church
USVA emblem 67Guardian Angel
USVA emblem 68Heart
USVA emblem 69Shepherd and Flag
USVA emblem 70African Methodist Episcopal (AME)
USVA emblem 71Evangelical Lutheran Church
USVA emblem 72Universalist Cross
USVA emblem 73Faith and Prayer
USVA emblem 74Muslim (Islamic 5 Pointed Star)
USVA emblem 98
[12]
Notes[]
Some symbols' meanings are not immediately apparent; they are explained below.
- 57 — SANDHILL CRANE: 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."[13][14][15]
- 63 — AFRICAN ANCESTRAL TRADITIONALIST (Nyame Ye Ohene): an ; the name is Akan for "God is King."
- 70 — SHEPHERD AND FLAG: Depicts a German shepherd and American flag[16][failed verification]
- 98 — FIVE-POINTED STAR: represents the Five Pillars of Islam[17]
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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Oregonian/OregonLive, Mike Francis | The (July 2, 2013). "Coming to VA cemetery headstones: the Sandhill Crane". oregonlive.
- ^ "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.
- ^ Desk, News (October 16, 2020). "Families Express Grief After Gravesite Memorabilia is Removed".
- ^ "VA Emblems of Belief Flashcards". www.flashcardmachine.com.
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
- United States Department of Veterans Affairs
- Religious symbols
- Military symbols
- Religion and society in the United States
- Burial monuments and structures
- Military cemeteries in the United States
- Lists of symbols