A bipartisan group of lawmakers, led by Florida Representative Greg Steube, is calling on the Department of Veterans Affairs to officially recognize the crucifix as an approved symbol for veteran headstones.
In a letter sent to VA Secretary Douglas Collins on April 10, 2026, the coalition argued that the current lack of a crucifix option leaves a significant gap for the roughly 20 percent of veterans who are Catholic.
While the VA’s National Cemetery Administration currently offers nearly 100 different “emblems of belief”—including various versions of the cross, the Jewish Star of David, and symbols for atheists and Wiccans—the crucifix is not among them.
The crucifix, which features the image of Jesus Christ, is a central symbol of the Catholic faith, distinct from the plain crosses already available to grieving families.
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“Our veterans made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our country, and they deserve to be honored in a way that reflects their deeply held beliefs,” Rep. Steube stated. “Catholic veterans should not be denied the ability to have a crucifix on their headstones while other belief systems are represented. The VA must correct this and ensure every veteran is laid to rest with reverence befitting their service and sacrifice to their nation and their Creator.”
The initiative has gained the backing of major religious groups, including CatholicVote and the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA. Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio specifically praised the effort, noting that it supports the “Free Exercise of religion” for those who served.
In the formal request, Steube and his colleagues asked the VA to detail its current approval process for new emblems and questioned whether the agency has rejected previous requests for the crucifix. The letter emphasizes that the First Amendment should guarantee that Catholic veterans have the same right to specific religious representation as those of other faiths or secular belief systems.
The lawmakers have requested a formal response and a potential timeline for the symbol’s approval by May 8, 2026.
As it stands, Catholic families must choose from existing symbols, but Steube and the supporting organizations argue that adding the crucifix is a necessary step in providing veterans with the “dignity and honor they so rightfully deserve.”
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