December 6, 2024

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Military Headstone Symbols

Probably as far off as I’ll get from a Nature related topic but certain events in life seem to have brought me here. Recently a family member was interred in Saratoga National Cemetery and the symbols on each headstone peaked my curiosity in what their meaning was. The Latin Cross and Star of David were simple to interpret but the others left me wondering. For lack of a better and faster source to find this information I decided to just do a simple post in case any one else in the world was just as curious.

Christian
(Latin Cross)Christian Cross
 Judaism
(Star of David)
HEBREW (Star of David)
 BuddhistBUDDHIST (Wheel of Righteousness)
 Presbyterian CrossPRESBYTERIAN CROSS
 Russian Orthodox CrossRUSSIAN ORTHODOX CROSS
 Lutheran CrossLUTHERAN CROSS
 Episcopal CrossEPISCOPAL CROSS
 Unitarian
(Flaming Chalice)
UNITARIAN CHURCH/UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST ASSOCIATION
 United MethodistUNITED METHODIST CHURCH
 Aaronic Order ChurchAARONIC ORDER CHURCH
 Mormon
(Angel Moroni)MORMON (Angel Moroni)
 Native American Church
Of North AmericaNATIVE AMERICAN CHURCH OF NORTH AMERICA
 Serbian OrthodoxSERBIAN ORTHODOX
 Greek CrossGREEK CROSS
 Bahai
(9 Pointed Star)BAHAI (9 Pointed Star)
 AtheistATHEIST
 Muslim
(Crescent and Star)MUSLIM (Crescent and Star)
 HinduHINDU
 Konko-Kyo FaithKONKO-KYO FAITH
 Community of ChristCOMMUNITY OF CHRIST
 Sufism ReorientedSUFISM REORIENTED
 Tenrikyo ChurchTENRIKYO CHURCH
 Seicho-no-ieSEICHO-NO-IE
 The Church of World
MessianityCHURCH OF WORLD MESSIANITY (Izunome)
 United Church of Religious
ScienceUNITED CHURCH OF RELIGIOUS SCIENCE
 Christian Reformed ChurchCHRISTIAN REFORMED CHURCH
United Moravian Church UNITED MORAVIAN CHURCH
 EckankarECKANKAR
 Christian ChurchCHRISTIAN CHURCH
 Christian & Missionary AllianceCHRISTIAN & MISSIONARY ALLIANCE
United Church of Christ UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST
 Humanist Emblem of SpiritHUMANIST EMBLEM OF SPIRIT
 Presbyterian Church (USA)PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH (USA)
 Izumo Taishakyo Mission
Of HawaiiIZUMO TAISHAKYO MISSION OF HAWAII
 Soka Gakkai International
(USA)SOKA GAKKAI INTERNATIONAL - USA
 Sikh (Khanda)SIKH (KHANDA)
 Wicca (Pentacle)WICCA
 Lutheran Church of Missouri
SynodLutheran Church Missouri Synod
 New ApostolicNew Apostolic Church
 Seventh Day Adventist ChurchSeventh Day Adventist Church

 

 Celtic CrossCeltic Cross
 Armenian CrossArmenian Cross
 FaroharFarohar
 Messianic JewishMessianic Jewish
 Kohen HandsKohen Hands
 Catholic Celtic CrossCatholic Celtic Cross
 First Church of Christ. Scientist
(Cross & Crown)The First Church of Christ, Scientist (Cross and Crown)
 Medicine WheelMedicine Wheel
 InfinityInfinity
 Luther RoseLuther Rose
 Landing EagleLanding Eagle
Four Directions Four Directions
Church of Nazarene Church of Nazarene
 Hammer of ThorHammer of Thor
 Unification ChurchUnification Church
 Sandhill CraneSandhill Crane
 Church of GodChurch of God
 PomegranatePomegranate
 MessianicMessianic

You will find that most symbols are of the deceased’s  practiced religion. Several symbols however are representative of a personal statement. The Landing Eagle for example represents Freedom. The Sandhill Crane is a symbol of peace or as being one with land, water and sky. To Christians the Pomegranate represents life and eternal life.

All symbols for military headstones must be approved by the Veterans Administration for use.

 
 The symbols used on this page were obtained from the VA website.

Christian Cross