Key to Tombstone Engravings

              Anchor/Ships.....................Hope or a Mariner
              Arches...........................Victory in Death/Entry to Heaven
              Arrows...........................Mortality
              Bird.............................Eternal Life
              Bird flying......................Resurrection
              Book open........................Teacher
              Bible open.......................Minister
              Bouquets flowers.................Condolences, grief, sorrow
              Broken column....................Loss of Head of family
              Bugles...........................Resurrection,or Military
              Butterfly........................Short lived, Early death/Resurrection
              Candle being snuffed.............Time, Mortality
              Cherub...........................Angelic
              Clover.........................The Godhead
              Corn.............................Ripe old age
              Cross............................Emblem of faith
              Crosses:
                            Celtic ....................Immortality
                            Greek/Latin...........Christianity
                            Latin 3 step............Godhead, Faith, Charity
                            Maltese..................Bravery
                            St. Andrews...........Martydom
              Crossed swords...................High ranking military person
              Crown.........................Heavenly reward
              Darts or Coffin..................Father time
              Dove.............................Innocence, Gentleness, Affection, Purity/Peace/Holy Spirit
              Flying birds ....................Flight of the soul
              Fruit............................Eternal plent
              Garlands.........................Victory in death
              Hands shaking....................Farewell
              Harp.............................Praise to the Maker
              Hearts...........................Soul in bliss or love of Christ
              Horns............................The Resurrection
              Hourglass........................Swiftness of time/Flight of time
              Hand of God Chopping.............Sudden Death
              Hourglass with wings.............Time flying, short life
              Imps.............................Mortality
              Ivy..............................Friendship and Immortality
              Lamb.............................Innocence/Purity (children)
              Lamp..............................Knowledge of God
              Laurel...........................Fame or Victory
              Lily or lily of Valley...........Emblem of Innocence and purity
              Morning glory....................Beginning of life
              Oak.....................................Strength
              Oak leaves & acorn...............Maturity, and ripe old age
              Palm branches....................Signifies Victory and rejoicing
              Passion Flower....................Passion of Jesus
              Phoenix..............................I will rise again
              Picks & Shovels..................Mortality
              Poppy............................Sleep
              Portals..........................Passageway to eternal life
              Rings broken.....................Family circle severed
              Rose...............................Love
              Rose bud.........................Morning of life, renewal of life
              Rose fully opened................Prime of life
              Roses............................Brevity of earthly life
              Shell..............................Baptism
              Shells...........................Pilgrimage of life
              Stars & stripes on eagle.........Eternal vigilance liberty
              Sword............................Victory/Justice/Mercy
              Thistles.........................Rememberance
              Tombs............................Mortality
              Torch Inverted...................Life extinct
              Tree Stump with ivy..............Head of family Immortality
              Trees............................Life
              Trumpeters.......................Heralds of the resurrection
              Urn with Blaze...................Undying friendship
              Urn with wreath/crepe............Mourning
              Violets................................Humility
              Weeping willow...................Emblem of sorrow
              Wheat sheaf......................Fruitfulness/Ripe for harvest/Gathered in for the old
              Weeping Willow.........................Earthly sorrow/Grief
              Winged Effigies..................Flight of the soul
              Yew................................Immortality