REMEMBERING THE FALLEN

When visiting my mother’s grave site we noticed some pennies on some adjacent headstones and none of us knew the purpose.  Well I learned something new today – and here is the answer for those who were not aware of the tradition:

 

A coin left on a headstone let’s the deceased soldier’s family know that somebody stopped by to pay their respect.

 

Leaving a penny means you visited.

 

A nickel means that you and the deceased soldier trained at boot camp together.

 

If you served with the soldier, you leave a dime.

 

A quarter is very significant because it means that you were there when that soldier was killed.

 

So what happens to the coins after Memorial Day? They are collected and the money is used for cemetery maintenance, the cost of burial for soldiers, or the care of indigent soldiers.

 

Supposedly the tradition became popular here in the United States during the Vietnam war. It is believed it was a way to show respect without getting into an uncomfortable political discussion about a war that was very controversial during that time.

 

In general, however, this tradition can be traced to as far back as the Roman Empire. It was a way to give a buddy some spending money for the life hereafter.

 

Next time you make a visit make sure you have some coins with you !