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]
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]