Coins on graves..

[RIP_K52007]

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 life while serving in America's military, & 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 & 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 & state veterans cemeteries is eventually collected, & the funds are put toward maintaining the cemetery or paying burial costs for indigent veterans.

In the U.S., 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 of leaving coins on the headstones of military men & women can be traced to as far back as the Roman Empire

[KORNBREAD]

Thats pretty cool!

[mathew21]

Thats pretty cool!

X2
Thanks for sharing

[malibu78]

That is cool, I never knew that

[black07ss]

That is cool, I never knew that

X2
I will keep this in mind.

[Jjay78]

that's cool, never knew that

[ProGrade]

one question though...if all of these coins were left by people who served with the desceased, how many 160 year old people are out there? ...lol

[jaysgirl]

That is really cool. I never knew that

[HockeyGuy]

very cool

[marshall]

one question though...if all of these coins were left by people who served with the desceased, how many 160 year old people are out there? ...lol

that doesnt look like 1855 currency, does it?

[Uncle Steve]

Thats pretty cool!

[BIG DOG]

That is really cool. I never knew that

[RIP_K52007]

Probably put the coins on there to take the picture. another guy pointed that out on facebook.

[7387chevynut]

I thought doing that might be a like a sign of a good luck charm or something.

[72 Bogger]

That is cool, I never knew that

[Jthomas]

I have great respect for all veterans and current enlisted.

It's sad that on TV  movie stars checking into rehab is a bigger deal than a soldier's life. The fallen troops need to be recognized, each and every one.