Coins on Tombstones
COINS LEFT ON TOMBSTONES
While visiting some cemeteries you may notice that headstones marking certain graves have coins on them, left by previous visitors to the grave.
These coins have distinct meanings when left on the headstones of those who gave their life while serving in America's military, and these meanings vary depending on the denomination of coin.
A coin left on a headstone or at the grave site is meant as a message to the deceased soldier's family that someone else has visited the grave to pay respect. Leaving a penny at the grave means simply that you visited.
A nickel indicates that you and the deceased trained at boot camp together, while a dime means you served with him in some capacity. By leaving a quarter at the grave, you are telling the family that you were with the solider when he was killed.
According to tradition, the money left at graves in national cemeteries and state veterans cemeteries is eventually collected, and the funds are put toward maintaining the cemetery or paying burial costs for indigent veterans.
In the US, this practice became common during the Vietnam war, due to the political divide in the country over the war; leaving a coin was seen as a more practical way to communicate that you had visited the grave than contacting the soldier's family, which could devolve into an uncomfortable argument over politics relating to the war.
Some Vietnam veterans would leave coins as a "down payment" to buy their fallen comrades a beer or play a hand of cards when they would finally be reunited.
The tradition of leaving coins on the headstones of military men and women can be traced to as far back as the Roman Empire.
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Gary Smith on 08.30.13 @ 08:17 PM CST [link] [No Comments]
Friday, August 23rd
More on Military Working Dog National Monument Dedication
Greetings all. I wanted to elaborate just a bit on the Monument. Our website is at www.jbmf.us All reunion info will be posted there or it will have a link to dedication news. This monument is truly a national monument to you and to the dpg you worked with. It also represents the canines of World War II, Korea, Vietnam, the Persian Gulf War, and our current situation in Afghanistan and Iraq. It will honor each canine and handler who come after all this, as well. It is truly a National Monument, as designated by an act of Congress. I've been involved in this project since 2008 with John and the others. I hope you can consider attending. I know its on the heels of the reunion. If so, contact Larry Chilcoat, listed on the Board of Directors, with your USPS mailing address and he will send an invitation to you.
Jim Frost
981st MP Company 71-72
Gary Smith on 08.23.13 @ 12:27 PM CST [link] [No Comments]
Thursday, August 22nd
The 720th MP Battalion Reunion Association
212th Members,
Here is a link that Jim McCafferty 212th 67/68 located and passed on to me. Thought this would be of interest to all 212th members.
Take Care,
Gary Smith,
VMPSDA Web Master
981st 71/72
I am the History Project Manager for the 720th MP Battalion Reunion Association, and I created and manage the website.
The page for the 212th MP Company (Sentry Dog) can be reached through this weblink. The button is the Vietnam Campaign Ribbon on the main Home Page.
http://720mpreunion.org/history/project_vietnam/home_page.html
Is there something I can assist you with?
Tom
Thomas T. Watson
President, Reunion Association
History Project & Website Manager
email: mp720project@wctel.net
email: mp720reunion@wctel.net
phone: 864-391-2661(EST)
156 Memorial Drive
McCormick, SC 29835-4118
Welcome Soldiers Of The Gauntlet, visit us at http://www.720mpreunion.org
For information on becoming a Member use this link- http://720mpreunion.org/history/association/membership/index.html
To support us with a Donation use this link- http://720mpreunion.org/history/assets/donations/donations.html
To visit our Post Exchange use this link- http://720mpreunion.org/history/association/px/px_index.html
* If you wish to have your name removed from this mailing list, contact me via either of the Email address provided above. Thank you for your service.
Gary Smith on 08.22.13 @ 05:18 PM CST [link] [No Comments]
Monday, August 19th
Dedication of the Military Working Dog Teams National Monument
The Dedication for the Military Working Dog Teams National Monument will be October 28th. Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, TX. Hotel/Motel accomodations are each person's responsibility. We will be releasing a full schedule of events in a couple of weeks. I will also post something on the message board.
Gary Smith on 08.19.13 @ 04:58 PM CST [link] [No Comments]
Thursday, August 15th
Honoring the Dogs of War
If you are looking for a story that reminds you that our companions we worked with were not forgotten go to this: parade.com/dogsofwar. It is a story by Melba Newsome in a recent Parade Magazine about a new memorial to fallen Special Operations Canines.
Gary Smith on 08.15.13 @ 01:51 PM CST [link] [No Comments]
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Last Updated on 01/22/2009
By J.D.
