The Meaning of a Headstone

Many cultures mark the sites of burials with stones. Stone's durability means the marker will last longer than wooden markers, for example. Headstones can take many different shapes and sizes. Often, they contain an inscription about the deceased person and can include visual designs. You can read these textual, visual, and material elements to learn something about the broader culture as well as the particular beliefs and circumstances of the deceased.

In 1873—not long after the establishment of national cemeteries during the Civil War—the federal government began providing marble headstones for deceased Veterans. Today, the Veterans Legacy Memorial website shares images of the gravestones for most of the deceased Veterans and Service members. These artifacts can help you start your research.

Learning Goals

By the end of this lesson, you will know how to read and interpret a Veteran’s headstone. In particular, you will understand how the information on a grave can help you start your research.

Lessons in this Section

• Headstone Regulations
• Key Text on Headstones
• Emblems on Headstones