Finding ways to celebrate a loved one’s memory becomes vital for many after they pass away, as losing a loved one is always a tough event. While flower arrangements and other tributes are typical, there is a specific meaning associated with laying pennies on gravestones, especially for veterans and service members and their families.
A Tradition Worth Keeping
Though its exact roots are unknown, some have speculated that the custom of laying coins on gravestones originated during the Roman Empire. However, according to Snopes, there is insufficient evidence to back up this assertion. However, one thing is certain: people who have a strong bond with military people are aware of the sacrifices they make and are looking for a significant way to remember their lost colleagues.
It became increasingly difficult for people to express their emotions honestly during the Vietnam War. It became customary to place a coin on a soldier’s tomb to signify that someone had paid them a visit without running the danger of awkward talks regarding the political sides of the conflict. The gesture was a straightforward but effective way for people to express respect and unity.
Symbolic Honor Representations
Every penny placed on a gravestone has a special meaning associated with it. Here are few instances:
A penny is a sign that someone has paid their respects and visited the tomb.
Deeper emotional significance can be derived from a nickel, which represents a bond between the individual who left it and the dead soldier from boot camp.
A dime signifies cooperation, even if it was just briefly before splitting up.
The most important coin, the quarter, acts as a monument by informing the bereaved family that the person who left the coin was there during their time of grief.
These coins remind us of the sacrifices made by those who serve in the military and act as tangible representations of respect and tribute, bridging the gap between the past and present.
Past Gravestones
Not all military traditions involve coins, such as placing money on gravestones. Military troops are big fans of challenge coins, which have no monetary worth but are extremely significant. These coins, which stand for oneness, are frequently traded as trophies of friendship and honor.
Throughout history, coins have also had a variety of roles in cultural practices. They have been regarded as representations of good fortune, giving, and even riches. While this isn’t always the case, some people in the past were buried with their riches. For instance, it’s been reported that two dollars and fifty cents were buried with Abraham Lincoln’s eyes covered.
The deeper significance of laying pennies on gravestones is to commemorate and recognize the extraordinary efforts made by those who are serving in the military and their families, even though there may not be a clear relationship between money and this practice. It serves as a reminder to ourselves that their sacrifices are priceless.
Urgent Call for Prayers – Ed Sheeran Faces Inoperable Tumor And Unfolds Urgent Situation
A first-look at the documentary on Ed Sheeran’s life shows the emotional moment he breaks down in tears while opening up about his wife Cherry Seaborn’s health struggles.
Earlier this month, the singer took to Instagram to share the news that Seaborn, who he’s been married to since 2019, was diagnosed with a tumour while pregnant with their second child last year.
Within the same month, the singer’s best friend, Jamal Edwards, tragically passed away.
These difficult life events changed the course of Sheeran’s upcoming Disney+ docu-series The Sum of It All, something that he discusses in the trailer.
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“Cherry’s health, it was really bad, and then suddenly my best friend Jamal dies,” he explains.
“You guys said, ‘Do you want to make a documentary?’ And I went, ‘Yeah, it should be me in the studio and we’ll play the gig.’
“That’s not what the documentary is.”
The camera then cuts to the ‘Shape of You’ singer in a car as he bursts into tears.
And hundreds of people have offered words of support, with one writing in the trailer’s YouTube comments: “This doc series just proves that even when fans thinks he’s a super figure… he’s just a human with ups and downs just like the rest of us.
“So much respect for Ed and Cherry!”
Another wrote: “I’m so excited for this, he deserves every bit of success and good things in his life.
“You can always see the passion he has for music and expressing himself, that has never changed.”
“Real life comes to all of us, no matter where we’re at,” added a third. “I’m hoping you Cherry and the girls are doing well.”
The upcoming documentary, which also coincides with Sheeran’s sixth studio album release ‘Subtract’, is said to take viewers on a journey into how an ‘unlikely child with a stutter rose to fame to become one of the biggest global music superstars’.
Per the official synopsis: “For the first time, global superstar Ed Sheeran opens the doors to a definitive and searingly honest view into his private life as he explores the universal themes that inspire his music.
“This series follows Ed after he learns of life-changing news and reveals his hardships and triumphs during the most challenging period of his life.”
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