- United States Department of Veterans Affairs emblems for headstones and markers
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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, 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.
Generally the VA adds a new symbol a few months after receiving a petition from a faith group.[1] However, the Wiccan Pentacle was only added (in 2007) after a lawsuit by Americans United for the Separation of Church and State.[1]
The first "interfaith" headstone—including a Wiccan Pentacle for Jan Deanna O'Rourke and a Christian Cross for her husband—was installed at Arlington National Cemetery on May 1, 2007, and dedicated on July 4, 2007.[2]
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Spanish American War veteran in Cypress Hills National Cemetery
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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
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Flags flying at Fort Logan National Cemetery during Memorial Day 2006
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U.S. Veterans Administration issued Confederate gravestone with Southern Cross of Honor symbol displayed at top
Religious headstone and marker symbols
The following emblems and emblem numbers are publicized as available for Government headstones and markers as of June 2011.[3] 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.[3]
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Christian cross USVA emblem 01 -
Buddhist (Wheel of Dharma) USVA emblem 02 -
Judaism (Star of David) USVA emblem 03 -
Presbyterian Cross USVA emblem 04 -
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 (LDS Church) (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 (Agnus Dei) USVA emblem 27 -
Eckankar USVA emblem 28 -
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) USVA emblem 29 -
United Church of Christ USVA emblem 31 -
Humanist (American Humanist Association) (Humanism) USVA emblem 32 -
Izumo Taishakyo Mission of Hawaii USVA emblem 34 -
New Apostolic Church USVA emblem 39 -
Celtic Cross USVA emblem 41 -
Farohar (Zoroastrianism) USVA emblem 43 -
Kohen Hands (Jewish: Kohen) USVA emblem 45 -
Catholic Celtic Cross USVA emblem 46 -
Christian Science (Cross & Crown) USVA emblem 97 -
Muslim (Islamic 5 Pointed Star) USVA emblem 98
References
- ^ a b NY Times Advertisement
- ^ www.witchvox.com, retrieved June 17, 2011.
- ^ a b Available Emblems of Belief for Placement on Government Headstones and Markers - Burial & Memorials
See also
- United States National Cemetery
- Religious symbolism
- Military Tombstone Abbreviations
- Religious symbolism in the United States military
Categories:- United States Department of Veterans Affairs
- Religious symbols
- Military symbols
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