I received an explanation about the coins and why they are left. I did a column that included that data.
Reading: Coins on headstones have a meaning
Every year about this clock I get asked about that column and to explain what the coins left on graves mean .
This is the data I received :
A coin left on a gravestone is supposed to be a message to the deceased soldier ’ s family that person had visited the grave to pay respect .
besides, each coin ’ mho denomination has a distinct intend. Leaving a penny at the grave means person visited .
Leaving a nickel indicates the visitor and the asleep trained in boot camp together, while a dime means the visitor served with the soldier in some capacity .
A quarter left at the sculpt is to tell the kin the visitor was with the soldier when he was killed.
According to the letter, the money left at graves in home and state veterans cemeteries is finally collected, and the funds are put toward maintaining the cemetery or paying burial costs for destitute veterans .
It is my understand leaving a coin became coarse during the Vietnam War because of the political controversy in the nation over that war. Leaving a mint was seen as a room to communicate that a person had visited the grave quite than contacting the soldier ’ s family .
And, some veterans leave coins as a “ down payment ” to buy their fallen comrades a beer in heaven or to be used for grave maintenance .
I have never been able to verify whether the information I received about the coins is true or not. I like to think the information is true .
Over the years, there have been lots of pennies left along with nickels and dimes that have been left on my son ’ s keystone .
After I learned the mean of the coins, they give me comfort knowing Chuck is remembered and not forgotten.
Lest, we forget…
Mary Drier is a freelance reporter and columnist for the Huron Daily Tribune .
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