Jun 11

Tombstone Tuesday-Some Cemetery Terms

Occasionally we run across cemetery terms that are unfamiliar. Some terms have similar definitions and some terms are sometimes used interchangeably.  

Cenotaph–A monument placed on a grave to honor an individual whose remains are interred elsewhere or whose remains cannot be recovered. An empty grave, often used to memorialize the deaths of those lost in war or another part of the world.

Cenotaph, St. Paul Lutheran Cemetery, Liberty Township.

Casket–A rectangular, decorative container for holding a body at the time of burial, usually constructed of wood or metal.

Coffin–A tapered, six-sided container for holding a body at the time of burial, usually constructed of wood. The words coffin and casket are often used interchangeably.

Vault–A sealed and lined container placed around a casket to prevent the grave from sinking and to protect the casket.

Interment–Burial in the ground, entombment in a mausoleum, or the scattering of cremains.

Mausoleum–An above-ground structure to house multiple deceased individuals within crypts. It may be indoor or outdoor, public, or private, for a specific family. It may contain sections for cremated remains.

Chattanooga Mausoleum, Chattanooga, Ohio

Crypt–A sealed enclosure for a casket, usually within a mausoleum.

Crypts  inside Chattanooga Mausoleum.

Sarcophagus–An above ground chamber for a casket entombment, usually made of granite or stone.

Sepulcher–A burial vault, crypt, or small room where human remains are laid to rest.

Entombment–Burial of a casketed body or cremated remains, within a crypt or niche, within a mausoleum, sarcophagus, or columbarium.

Cremains–Cremated remains.

Columbarium–A structure designed to hold cremated remains. It may be inside or outside, freestanding or part of a larger structure, sometimes housed within a mausoleum.

Columbarium

Niche–A space in a columbarium, mausoleum, or niche wall to hold an urn containing cremains.

Cremation Plot-An in-ground space that holds and urn with an individual’s cremains.  

Inurnment–Placement of cremains in an urn, followed by placement into a niche.

Scattering Garden/Cremation Garden–An area within a cemetery where cremains are scattered or buried.

Ledger Grave Marker–A decorative stone slab that covers the entire grave.

North Grove Cemetery, Celina

Epitaph–Text or a literary piece inscribed on a grave marker or memorial. Biographical information is not part of an epitaph.

Jun 07

80th Anniversary of D-Day

Yesterday was the 80th anniversary of D-Day. I watched some of the ceremonies on TV and saw U.S. D-Day veterans and grateful French citizens waving American flags.

Over 150,000 U.S., British, and Canadian troops stormed the Normandy beaches on 6 June 1944. The invasion was the largest amphibious assault in history.  

The heroic actions of those servicemen marked a turning point in WWII. If not for their bravery, the world might be a different place today. Their bravery helped overcome tyranny and eventually maintained freedom for many people in many countries.

These servicemen were true heroes and many paid the ultimate sacrifice for their actions. There are 4,426 names on the Memorial Wall at the National D-Day Memorial, 2,509 Americans and 1,917 Allies.

The opening scenes of the movie Saving Private Ryan are probably some of the most realistic depictions of D-Day. What those soldiers did, endured, suffered, and saw is unimaginable.

I do not know of any Mercer or Van Wert County servicemen who were on the Normandy beaches on D-Day. Maybe someone knows.

One of my relatives, Pvt. Edgar F. Schumm (1914-1944), died in battle at Montigny, France. His tombstone is at Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Schumm. At the same time his brother Richard was a Marine on Guam and another brother, Rinehart, was in a Virginia Army camp.  

PVT. Edgar F. Schumm, Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Van Wert County, Ohio. (2020 photo by Karen)

Another relative, Pfc. Victor Schueler (1924-1945), 85th Mountain Regiment, 10th Mountaineer Division, was wounded in action, recovered from his wounds, but died from a kidney infection a couple months later in Italy. His tombstone is at Saint Paul Lutheran Cemetery, Preble, Adams County, Indiana.  

On my paternal side, Pfc. Ralph J. Derickson Jr (1925-1945), 99th Infantry Division, was killed in action in Germany during the Battle of the Bulge. He is buried in Luxembourg but his cenotaph is in Riverside Cemetery, Geneva, Indiana.  

Some of the soldiers who survived D-Day are still living and some of them attended the ceremonies in France. A few said that at the time they were too young to join the military, but they lied about their age so they could join the fight.

We can never thank these brave men enough for their sacrifices.

They were the Greatest Generation and we must never forget them and what they sacrificed for freedom.  

May 31

Some Bennett Photos

I enjoy putting these information photos together, and today, some Bennett photos.

Vermont Bennett

Delaware Bennett

Henry Brandenburg Bennett

Lura (Monroe) Bennett

Greg Bennett

Fred Roesner

Edward Roesner

Louise (Roesner) Bennett

May 28

Tombstone Tuesday-Memorial Day 2024

Some local photos I took yesterday, reflecting on the meaning of Memorial Day and the sacrifices made by our servicemen and women.

May 24

Memorial Day 2024

Monday we celebrate Memorial Day, the day we honor the men and women who died while serving in the U.S. military.

Elm Grove Cemetery, St. Marys, Ohio (2013 photo by Karen)

Originally called Decoration Day, this federal holiday dates back to just after the Civil War, as a way to remember and honor both Union and Confederate soldiers who were killed in battle during that war. In 1868, 30 May was officially proclaimed as the day to decorate Civil War graves. After WWI Memorial Day was extended to honor Americans who died in all wars. Today, many Americans use this holiday as a time to decorate any grave site, whether the deceased served in the military or not.

Memorial Day was declared a U.S. federal holiday in 1971 and is now observed the last Monday in May. In December 2000 the National Moment of Remembrance resolution was passed, which asks all Americans to pause at 3:00 p.m. local time and reflect on the meaning of Memorial Day.

The entire month of May is Military Appreciation Month, officially designated by Congress in 1999 to remind Americans to celebrate this patriotic month that pays tribute to those who have made sacrifices for our freedom.

Although the entire month of May is designated to honor military members and their families, past and present, several specific military holidays occur throughout the month of May. In 2024 these military holiday dates are Loyalty Day (1 May), VE Day (8 May), Military Spouse Appreciation Day (10 May/Friday before Mother’s Day), Children of Fallen Patriots Day (13 May), Armed Forces Day (18 May), Maritime Day (22 May), and Memorial Day (27 May). 

Most towns in our area will have a Memorial Day ceremony at local cemetery, conducted by the local American Legion and/or VFW, who also mark all veterans’ graves with an American flag. A big Thank You to all those volunteers. Many towns will also have a Memorial Day parade.

Proper flag etiquette on Memorial Day: The American flag should be flown at half-staff until noon and then raised to full-staff. During a parade there may be several participants with a flag and it is appropriate to salute only the first flag as it passes by. As the first flag passes everyone should show respect by standing at attention with their right hand over their heart. Those in uniform should give their appropriate formal salute.

In addition to honoring the fallen military members, Memorial Day traditionally marks the beginning of summer.

Wishing everyone a nice Memorial Day as we honor and remember those who sacrificed their lives for our country and for our freedom.

Thanksgiving is a day when we pause to give thanks for the things we have.
Memorial Day is a day when we pause to give thanks to the people who fought for the things we have.