Press Release

Humanist Military Veterans Get Overdue Recognition

For Immediate Release - Contact: Roy Speckhardt (202) 238-9088

(Washington, DC, August 12, 2003) The U.S. military will now allow Humanist military veterans to display the Humanist emblem on their tombstones after persistent lobbying by the American Humanist Association and several of its military veteran members. “Although it’s unfortunate that it took the military establishment so long to respect the wishes of its own veterans, it’s nonetheless very gratifying to see this happen,” said AHA executive director Tony Hileman.

Humanist military veterans enlisted the aid of the AHA to push the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to recognize the Humanist logo as a “legitimate emblem of belief” on military headstones. After more than two years of lobbying, the federal agency responded affirmatively on June 18, 2003, and formalized that response in an official letter received this week.

According to David Schettler, Director of Memorial Programs Service at Veterans Affairs, “the emblem will be added to NCA’s official list of authorized emblems of belief.” And “the emblem will be included in the next revision of the 40-1330 application for a government headstone or marker.”

“The agency’s decision should be a reminder that there are indeed atheists, Humanists, and others in foxholes,” continued Hileman. “There are clearly many veterans who want to be remembered in death as the proud Humanists they were in life.”

The American Humanist Association is the oldest and largest Humanist organization in the nation. The AHA is dedicated to ensuring a voice for those with a positive outlook, based on reason and experience, which embraces all of humanity.

See the letter from the Department of Veterans Affairs (pdf)

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