bonnie Posted May 25, 2014 Share Posted May 25, 2014 What Do The Coins Left On Military Headstones Mean? By Mike Kasper May 23, 2014 6:21 AM Have you ever been in a cemetery and saw coins laying on a tombstone? There is actually a reason behind it. Read more, so you can know what each coin means, and maybe as you visit a fallen soldier this Memorial Day, you can leave a coin to honor them too. 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 lives 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 can be traced to as far back as the Roman Empire. From everyone here at Mix 106, Thank you to all the military and their families who have sacrificed so much so that we are able to enjoy our freedom….Happy Memorial Day! Read More: What Do The Coins Left On Military Tombstones Mean? | http://mix106radio.com/what-do-the-coins-left-on-military-tombstones-mean/?trackback=tsmclip Quote Everything you do is based on the choices you make. It's not your parents, your past relationships, your job, the economy, the weather, an argument, or your age that is to blame. You and only you are responsible for every decision and choice you make, period ... ... Wish more people would realize this. Quotes by Susan Gottesman Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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