We know that the bodies are buried so that when they sit up they will be facing East. Flat in the grave, their feet will be at the East end and the head will be at the West end. The grave markers facing West were probably placed that way so people can visit the graves without walking on the graves themselves. However you will find the grave marker engraving facing either East or West. Common sense says that the walking on the graves would be the main reason. Most of the modern, perpetual care cemeteries, the writing or engraving faces East. I do not believe it is a tradition or anything.which way they face in any graveyard. Phil