Graveyard Guru – October 8, 2009

Military Headstones
by Stephanie Lincecum

While conducting some recent analysis of my personal Graveyard Rabbit blog (southern graves.blogspot.com), I found out one of the most popular posts was entitled “Southern Cross of Honor,” about a symbol found on the graves of soldiers who served in the Civil War on the side of the Confederacy. This led me to believe a topic of military headstones would be a good one for this edition of the Graveyard Guru.

I spoke with a couple of different people while researching this topic. My main guru was Anne with the Department of Veterans Affairs. She was very helpful and very modest. Her first name was all she asked to be included with this article, and that request will be honored. All information regarding the VA was provided by her and their website - www.cem.va.gov.

The first piece of knowledge from the VA is this: “The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) furnishes upon request, at no charge to the applicant, a Government headstone or marker for the unmarked grave of any deceased eligible veteran in any cemetery around the world, regardless of their date of death.” Flat markers are available in bronze, granite, and marble. Upright headstones are available in granite and marble.

I have had the opportunity to visit many cemeteries, national (military) and private. I can confidently say I have seen military headstones commemorating the service of soldiers of all wars from the American Revolution to World War II, Korea, and Vietnam. Not to mention countless for those who bravely served our country and thankfully did not see combat. The most common military headstone requested and seen is the marble government issue. Oftentimes, but not always, the Christian Cross is engraved at the top of the headstone. This is considered by the VA to be an emblem of belief, “an emblem or symbol that represents the sincerely held belief of the decedent that constituted a religion or the functional equivalent of religion and was believed and/or accepted as true by that individual during his or her life.” Every emblem from the Christian Cross to the Wicca Pentacle is available.

Inscriptions found on military markers range from name and unit served to name, unit served, war fought, and dates of birth and death. Whatever is provided is what is inscribed.

For the soldiers who served prior to World War I, a historical upright marble headstone style is available. For the Union soldiers of the Civil War, and the soldiers of the Spanish-American War, a recessed shield and raised lettering can be used.

 

 

For the Confederate soldiers of the Civil War, the historical Southern Cross of Honor may be inscribed at the top of the upright marble headstone.

According to Wikipedia, “The Southern Cross of Honor was a military decoration meant to honor the officers, noncommissioned officers, and privates for their valor in the armed forces of the Confederate States of America during the American Civil War. It was formally approved by the Congress of the Confederate States on October 13, 1862, and was originally intended to be on par with the Union Army's Medal of Honor.

The design for the face of the medal consists of a cross with a Confederate battle flag surrounded with a laurel wreath, with the inscription "The Southern Cross of Honor." On the back of the medal is the motto of the Confederate States of America, "Deo Vindice" ([With] God [As Our] Vindicator), and the dates 1861 1865.”

As for the government issue headstones, the cross with the laurel wreath is inscribed.

 

As a side note, sometimes you may see an “iron southern cross” inserted into the ground next to the grave of a Confederate soldier. This is a cast iron reproduction of the medal described above, usually atop a medal rod. This is not government issue, and is sometimes placed by local chapters of the Sons of Confederate Veterans.

In regards to the bronze flat markers issued by the VA, I often see them in memorial park type cemeteries where only flat markers are allowed.

Another type of military marker available is called a “bronze niche.” It is 8 ½ inches by 5 ½ inches and is to be mounted with furnished bolts and washers.

Also available are memorial headstones and markers. These are for individuals “whose remains are not recovered or identified, are buried at sea, donated to science or whose cremated remains have been scattered.” These markers contain the inscription In memory of as the first line.

For all of these military gravestone markers, proof of military service is necessary. Even for soldiers in the pre-World War I era, detailed primary documentation, such as Compiled Military Service Records, extracts from official State files, and/or Federal pension documents or land warrants is required.

There will soon be a new addition available for marking the grave of a serviceman or woman. “The Department of Veterans Affairs is currently designing a medallion to be affixed to an existing privately purchased headstone or marker to signify the deceased's status as a veteran.” It should be available by the end of 2009.

One final thing, for clarity, “public Law 110-157, signed on Dec. 26, 2007, allows the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to furnish a Government headstone or marker for the graves of eligible veterans who died on or after Nov. 1, 1990, regardless of whether the grave is already marked with a privately purchased headstone or marker. Under the previous law, when the grave was already marked, only veterans who died on or after Sept. 11, 2001 were eligible.”

The veterans of all the armed forces of this great United States, past and present, deserve our utmost respect. I am thankful for the Department of Veterans Affairs for doing their best to make sure this carries on even beyond the lives of our soldiers.