What do coins left on military headstones mean?
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- Опубліковано 9 вер 2024
- Have you ever seen coins left on tombstones and wondered what the reason could be? Listen as our lawn division manager Dan Smalt explain.
On July 15, 2019 several members from our team were given the privilege of participating in the 23rd annual Renewal & Remembrance at the Arlington National Cemetery. Over 400 landscape and lawn care professionals from 28 states came together to donate services and materials to care for and beautify one of our nation’s most hallowed places.
I yearly take a roll of quarters and dimes to honor the men I served with and those that I witnessed their departure from this Earthly plane. As a USAF PJ for 3 tours in Vietnam, I cannot remember the names of the men, and women, that I helped that survived. BUT I can remember EVERY name of those that did not!
Whoa! I wanted to go PJs when I enlisted in the AF many many years ago. I was definitely not tough enough to make it. I take my hat off to you and all other PJs for doing a job as difficult and demanding as those performed by the well known SF groups. /salute
@@ProBioMech Thank you for the response Brother, and thank you for your service!
However, PJ's get very little respect if the SF community at large.
It's the old 'oh, you're AF huh!' mentality!
@@richdudley257I wonder if that’s still true now that there seems to be a lot more multi-service missions being undertaken. You certainly don’t hear about PJs or Combat Controllers like you do SEALs.
Thank you sir for your service.
@@tj-kv6vr Thank you! TBPH, I never know how to respond to that!
As a past sentinel at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier we always put two dimes and a penny (.21 cents) on the tomb stones of unknown soldiers symbolizing the 21 steps we take on the mat and a 21 gun salute. We toured the cemeteries in France, (especially Normandy) and carried on that tradition recognizing the unbelievable bravery of those young men who gave the ultimate sacrifice to keep our countries free. Tomb Guard badge 144
Thank you for your Service.
HOOAH
God Bless you along with your brothers & sisters!!!
I have high respect for you and all the guards . 👍
@@mikelgeren149 Thanks Sir.
I was metal detecting one day and I got a bicentennial quarter..later that day I stumbled upon an ole revolutionary War graveyard...the big stone was still readable, and the guy died in the battle of Lexington Concord....it only seemed right to leave the quarter on the stone.
That's amazing, like it was meant to be
Well done.
You know you kept it
@@jeffdur1330 they would have absolutely no reason to post this story if they had kept it, not everyone is as selfish as you.
@@-Teague- sure dude.
I did not know the etiquete. Glad I watched this. Thank you to all of those who served and are still serving our country
don't steal the money
RADM Leonard was an absolute hero. His entire family were dedicated members of our armed forces. His father being a Colonel and one brother achieving Maj. General. William served in WWII, Korea, and Vietnam. A very rare achievement.
Not enough coins in Fort Knox to commemorate these men and women! God bless America and those who have given all!🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
Thank you sir for the explanation.
I always wanted to know the purpose of the coin on the grave.
Great video 🇺🇸
As a Veteran during peace time, I appreciate the information because I had no idea. Thank you.
Penny = You Stopped By
Nickel - You Shared Basic Training
Dime = You Were Stationed With
Quarter = You Were Present When They Gave the Ultimate Sacrifice
😇💓
what is the ultimate sacrifice?
What if they died of natural causes or something outside of the military, then a quarter means nothing?
My good friend Ricky B passed in 2006. He was a 2 year Marine I served with from boot camp until his EAS. I always leave a penny, a dime, and a nickel when I visit him at the Vacaville Veterans Cemetery.
I’de been to Arlington National Cemetery years ago; I wish I’d known this then…..I’d have been weighed down with pennies! THANK YOU, our wonderful military, for your sacrifice. This brought tears to my eyes.
That is a sacred, cathartic, and honorable gesture. People need to LEAVE THEM!
I slipped a crisp 100 bill into my dad's suit pocket the day we laid him to rest.
*To pay the ferry man.
** Just in case
Love to you!
He needs two peices of silver
@@user-io6pj8bz8h the $100 works too... Sometimes even a candy bar...
Is that why some cultures cover the eyes with coins?
@@hkraytai I believe that was to keep the eyes closed. Actually I looked it up, and yes, you are right. Interesting and cool to learn something new. 🌹
I knew leaving a coin was a way of indicating someone had visited the grave , I did not know the meanings of which coin you left and the meanings. Thank you for this explanation. Thank you to all service men and women who served and sacrificed
Always wondered why. Thank you for posting.
Sounds similar to the Jewish tradition of leaving a rock on a gravestone to let subsequent visitors know that this gravesite gets visited-- this person was loved.
This practice can be traced back to ancient Greece and Rome. It's strange how traditions such as this is kept alive even when most people do not understand it's origin or purpose.
This had me in tears. Thank you to those willing to serve and to sacrifice their lives for the freedom of others around the world. ❤
I do this every Memorial Day. When I leave a penny, I also leave a salute.
Back in the late 70s I was in the boy scouts and every memorial day we walked in the local parade and went to the cemetery for the flag raising. I seen people and military members putting something on the grave stones, never knew what or why but now I am 56 and just learned something new. I don't have much FreeTime to go but I do like visiting old cemeteries just to read some names and dates,when ever I do this again I will take penny's with me.
I do the same.
I think it's appropriate to say thank-you 'for your service' when you meet someone that is in the armed forces, but when someone was brutally killed, then I think it is more appropriate when visiting a military grave to say thank-you 'for your sacrifice.' (They sacrificed their life so that others could continue to enjoy a life of freedom and liberty.)
The thing that I find is saddest of all, is that today most young people have no idea , appreciation or respect for what those service men and women gave their lives for.
You can bet your a$$ that the young people in MY family DO!
I took my neice and nephew to Arlington, as part of a Pittsburgh to DC bicycle trip, and took them to the graves I honor annually.
They both stood there, seemingly, hanging on every word as I told the story of how each of those young men paid the ultimate sacrifice, as I laid my quarter on each marker.
@@richdudley257Thank you for helping keep the history and memory of those who served and serve going. It does matter. Thank you again.
@@stevescott6503 Thank YOU Sir. There's an old adage that goes something like this, 'a person is NEVER truly gone as long as their memory lives.' THAT is why I do this!
I’ve raised my daughters & now grandchildren to recognize & greet our veterans with a “thank you” for their service. I still do, & I can’t help but tear up when I do, realizing the horrors they’ve lived thru & been haunted by!
@@leslieschott754 Thank you for your comment! I ride with B.A.C.A. and the Patriot Guard and I have a patch on both of my vests that says 'Sometimes I wrestle with my demons. Other times we hug and eat cheesecake' Memories can be demons that we just have to make friends with! There are still a few that haunt me regularly and it's been almost 50 years!
I have saw coins on tombstones he
taught me something new.
Thank You. Your video popped up and I had to watch it. Years ago, someone left a coin on my brothers headstone. I thought it was odd. After watching this video, it made me smile.
The coins are to pay passage to Charon to get them across the river Styx
this tradition pre-dates the United States military by hundreds of years. this has ties in midieval europe, and came to the USA with the first colonists.
Coins on graves are an ancient tradition.
Wow, I've never heard of this. My Dad was a WW2 vet.
Cemetery visitors began the practice of leaving coins for the dead in ancient Greece and ancient Rome. It was believed that when people died, they needed coins to pay Charon to cross the river Styx. Greeks were also known to put a coin known as Charon's obol in the mouths of deceased people. This implies no disrespect for the modern tradition of acknowledging the sacrifice of servicemen and women but the sentiment has ancient roots.
I guess the Chinese were being stingy when they just burn overinflated paper money. 😁
@@nunyabiznes33 The Chinese are pragmatic and not sentimental when it comes to money. I know.
I love that. I now know. So meaningful. Much love to families who's loved one's made the ultimate sacrifice. ❤ from UK.
That’s beautiful. Lest we forget. 🙏💜🇦🇺
God bless this precious man
He most certainly did save this officer's life
its a beautiful gesture.
ah thanks for the info. I saw History Underground go to TN and lots of headstones had coins on top
I did not know this. I went to a graveside with a person I know. While there I had noticed the coins on certain graves. I didn't pay too much attention to the coins, till I was alone with my thoughts. THANK YOU!
God bless them all
That's why I leave a dime on ADM John Hayes, USCG's Arlington grave every time I'm there. My 1st Commandant & we were at USCG HQ together.
LJD #USCG 1979-2019
Thank you so much for the information!🙏❤️🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲
I visited the grave of Sarah Lincoln, president Lincoln's sister. There were many coins on her headstone, some tucked into the carvings of flowers on the front.
Great info, something I never knew. We owe our lives in the US to everyone who has fought from the Revolutionary War to the present!!!
Chief:
Thank You for this block of instruction.
I learned something new today! 👍🏻😁
Good to know and thank you all for your service 😔 🇺🇲
I visited my grandfather’s grave after I got off the road from trucking.
Nobody told me he had died.
I also saw the marker, and that he was in the Foreign Legion.
I saw Pennie’s and a few nickels, a couple of dimes.
Dammit, I’m his grandson, and he never said anything about being in the Service!
I left a quarter.
A lot of veterans never talk about their service, especially if they lost friends. It's just a part of their past that they put away. My uncle never talked about it.
Thank you. Truly appreciate this video🙏🏾
Beautiful tradition
God BLESS all those who served and are serving!🇺🇲💘🇺🇲
As a Coast Guard veteran I always dislike how we are forgotten, I know he said sailor, but he meant Navy.
Wow that’s awesome!!! Thank you so much for sharing this with us.
Respect Honor Friendship
Now I know how to properly leave coin behind.
Thank you for that.
Actually a helpful video. I'll remember this from now on.
Did not know that- good to know and thank you.
Nice gesture! I leave coins on a former brother-in-law's grave!
Wow i never knew that thank you ❤. Nice gestures. .
I left coins on John Dillingers tombstone. Along with several others.
I bought a coke and candy bar with that. Thanks.
I’ve never heard if this. Touching.
IN MY VIEW
This is a wonderful tradition. Thank you for sharing this information.
May God bless ALL our military in Jesus name. Our Miliary....Our Heroes.
It’s a sweet idea but surely the corroding coins will mark e.g. marble?
I was there some years ago, Damn I wish I knew this. I may have known one or two,
Hi, in Britain, this probably implies that whoever rests in peace means that 'they've taken The King's Shilling".
Nah…..that usually came in a tankard of beer, bought for the victim by a sneaky recruiter.
That’s why they invented the glass-bottomed pint pot!
I didn’t know any of that. I’ll remember that the next time I go to a cemetery.
Thank you for this. I saw quarter on one, left it alone of course, but always wonder what it meant.
Does someone collect the change afterward? Or does the change pile up?
It might get spirited away
It just proves you were there at the grave site , some people leave pebbles , some leave joints , so go visit your loved ones that are gone
Thanks for your service!!! RADM US NAVY , W Leonard
Many thanks.
Thank you so much for that information ! ! ! !
Thank you for that explanation.
done with being thanked for my service-I got paid-thank me for my sacrifices-missed graduation-birthdays-kids being born-parents dead ===on deployment- not bitter just saying 👍🏿👍🏿👍🏿👍🏿🔥🔥🔥🔥💯💯💯
And all should be left with Medals of Honor 🇺🇸
Wow, thank you for the information!
Here's to one more round.
Thank you
If you leave coins on markers at our graveyard, they would be gone the next day. Some people.🤬🤬🤬
Not in the military, what an interesting gesture. How long has this tradition being going on for?
Thank you for this.
I used to put a quarter on my friends grave, but people would steal it. Now I leave flowers.
Thank you I did not realize this
Ive always left dimes, just because silver seems special, but i press them into the earth. Its then just between myself, the deceased and God.
I visited my friends that I served with and left dimes. I don't think those coins last very long because people don't know what it means. Maybe super glue would be better.
Magically, the intent is there and the symbolism that is what count’s no superglue needed.
Thank you for sharing your knowledge and educating me. I will do my part in carrying on this tradition.
Awesome To know..
A very nice tradition. I placed money in my wife's coffin to pay the '"ferryman".
🕊Tears and prayers. May God protect my son and every service member in Duty. May He sustain their loved ones. May he ease the pain the the hearts of the loved ones of all of our fallen service members. In Jesus' mighty name, Amen. 🕊
Good to know
To pay the ferryman.
Quality !
Interesting, never knew about this.
And when was this tradition started ?
What should strangers do? Or a family member?
Certain ones mean certain meanings also for service and if died of cancer but served what coin i put for that person i was close with but died of cancer at later age? And served air forced
I never knew this. I go there all the time. JFK & I share a Birthday, so I go there to spend time with him. Now I know to take a bunch of pennies.
If you want to show respect for our Vets keep the sacred Cemetery's pristine, leaving debris has nothing to do with the deceased, only the people who leave this stuff. I'm a Vet and that's my opinion though some will disagree.
Seems reasonable
I sometimes will spend a day cleaning the lichen off the stone of soldiers and fellow masons who no longer get visitors.
Maybe the coins should be collected & put in an account for keeping up the cemetery grounds, covering expenses for the flags distributed on Memorial Day or even for a marker for a deceased soldier whose family can’t afford one. Can think of many uses of the collected funds.
@@leslieschott754 that’s a nice idea
Thank you for your post. I shall leave many pennies when visit. Altho I will visit Audie Murphy's grave 1st, I shall stop & visit many to say thank you, leave a penny, & a single wild flower.💖🙏⚘🇺🇸
What's a challenge coin mean ?
I doubt if many know or follow these guidelines.
Can barely hear the audio...
Amen
Is this only for servicemembers who died in combat?
And if someone leaves a 50 cent piece on the stone? would that indicate they were a best friend?