Religious discrimination by the U.S. Government

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The Veterans Administration's
policy concerning grave markers

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Quotation:

Overview:

The Veterans' Administration (VA) will provide, upon application, a headstone or marker for the unmarked grave of most deceased veterans. They will also furnish a headstone or marker for installation in a cemetery "to commemorate any veteran whose remains have not been recovered or identified, were buried at sea, donated to science, or cremated and the remains scattered." ₁ There are restrictions on eligibility. For example, veterans, -- including some who have committed criminal acts, or who have been found to be gay or lesbian -- who receive a dishonorable discharge are refused a headstone or marker.

Since 1996, Wiccans and others -- including this web site -- had approached the VA asking that the Wiccan pentacle be added to their list of allowable religious symbols. They stonewalled for over a decade. Finally, the VA was faced with a lawsuit to force them to comply with the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution which requires that no government law or regulation infringe on the separation of church and state. Rather than fight a lawsuit that everyone knew they would lose, the VA caved in and authorized use of the symbol in time for Memorial Day - 2007. ₂

The VA website now includes the following entry in its list of "Available Emblems of Belief for Placement on Government Headstones and Markers." ₃

Topics covered in this section:

References used:

1. "Application for standard government headstone or marker for installation in a private or state veterans cemetery," Veterans' Administration form 40-1330, at: http://www.cem.va.gov/pdf/401330.pdf
2. Scott Bauer, "VA Allows Wiccan Symbols on Headstones," Associated Press, 2007-APR-23, at: http://www.washingtonpost.com/
3. "Available Emblems of Belief for Placement on Government Headstones and Markers," Burial & Memorial Benefits, Veterans Benefits & Services, at: http://www.cem.va.gov/