This came across another list but I thought someone here might find it useful. Many times I have walked through cemeteries and wondering what some of the symbols meant. I have added it to my cemetery book for further reference. Pattie From: Genrit <A HREF="mailto:genrit@yahoo.com"> Reply-To: <A HREF="mailto:AR-CEMETERIES-L@rootsweb.com">AR-CEMETERIES-L@rootsweb.com</A> To: <A HREF="mailto:AR-CEMETERIES-L@rootsweb.com">AR-CEMETERIES-L@rootsweb.com</A> Thought someone might be interested in this Understanding the Art and Symbols on Tombstones There is nothing like a visit to a cemetery to make you feel close to an ancestor. You are walking the very ground where they were buried and where they may have walked once long ago and visited loved ones. Tombstone can be plain or they can be decorated with art and symbols and wording that have meaning you might not fully appreciate. Some examples of words or letters you might find engraved include: "B.P.O.E." means Benevolent Protective Order of Elks "F.L.T." with each letter in a link of a chain means Friendship, Love and Truth (see "I.O.O.F.") "F.O.E." Means Fraternal Order of Eagles "G.A.R." means Grand Army of the Republic. It was an organization of Civil War Union Army veterans. "I.O.O.F." means International Order of Odd Fellows (see "F.L.T."). "V.D.M." means "verbi Dei minister" (Minister of the Word of God). "W.O.W." means "Woodmen of the World". Upright tree stump markers are typical of the fraternity. "Relect" carved on a woman's headstone means she died a widow. "Consort" means she outlived her husband. Some examples of engraved symbols include: Anchors and Ships: Hope or Seafaring profession Arches: Victory in Death Arrows: Mortality Broken column: Loss of head of family Broken ring: Family circle severed Bugles: Military (see Trumpeters) Butterfly: Short-lived; early death Candle being snuffed: Time, mortality Cherub: Angelic Compass and Square: Masonic emblems Corn: Ripe old age Cross: Symbol of Christian hope Crossed Swords: Officer in the military Darts: Mortality Doves: The soul, purity, innocence, gentleness Father Time: Mortality, The Grim Reaper Flowers: Brevity of early existence, sorrow Flowers: Condolence, grief, sorrow Flying Birds: Flight of the soul Fruits : Eternal plenty Garlands : Victory in death Hand of God Chopping: Sudden death Hands of God Chopping: Sudden Death Handshakes: Farewell to earthly existence Harp: Praise to the Maker Hearts: Blissfulness or love of Christ Hourglass with wings: Time flying; short life Hourglass: Swiftness of time Ivy: Friendship and immortality Lamb: Innocence Laurel: Fame or victory Lily or lily of valley: Emblem of innocence and purity Morning glory: Beginning of life Oak leaves and acorn: Maturity, ripe old age Open book or Bible: Deceased teacher, minister, etc. Palm Branch: Signifies victory and rejoicing Picks and shovels: Mortality Poppy: Sleep Portals: Passageway to eternal journey Rose in full bloom: Prime of life Rosebud: Morning of life or renewal of life Roses: Brevity of mortal life Sheaf of wheat: Ripe for harvest, divine harvest time Shells: Pilgrimage of life Stars and stripes around eagle: Eternal vigilance, liberty Suns: The Resurrection Thistles: Remembrance Tombs: Mortality Torch Inverted: Life extinct Tree stump with ivy: Head of family; immortality Trees: Life Trumpeters: Heralds of the resurrection Urn with flame: Undying friendship Urn with wreath or crepe: mourning Willows: Emblem of sorrow Winged effigies: Flight of the soul A cenotaph is not a grave marker at all. It is a monument erected in memory of someone who died elsewhere, perhaps at sea.