THE MEANING OF GRAVESTONE ENGRAVINGS Anchor/Ships ~ Hope or a Mariner Arches ~ Victory in Death 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 Candle being snuffed ~ Time, Mortality Cherub ~ Angelic Corn ~ Ripe old age Cross ~ Emblem of faith Crossed swords ~ High ranking military person Darts/Coffin~Father-Time, Gentleness, Affection, Purity Flying birds ~ Flight of the soul Fruit ~ Eternal plenty 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 Hand of God Chopping ~ Sudden Death Hourglass with wings ~ Time flying, short life Imps ~ Mortality Ivy ~ Friendship and Immortality Lamb ~ Innocence Laurel ~ Fame or Victory Lily/Lily of Valley ~ Emblem of Innocence and purity Morning glory ~ Beginning of life Oak leaves & acorn ~ Maturity, and ripe old age Palm branches ~ Signifies Victory and rejoicing Picks & Shovels ~ Mortality Poppy ~ Sleep Portals ~ Passageway to eternal life Rings broken ~ Family circle severed Rose bud ~ Morning of life, renewal of life Rose fully opened ~ Prime of life Roses ~ Brevity of earthly life Shells ~ Pilgrimage of life Stars & stripes on Eagle ~ Eternal vigilance liberty Thistles ~ Remembrance 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 Weeping willow ~ Emblem of sorrow Wheat sheaf ~ Ripe for harvest, divine harvest, time Willows ~ Earthly sorrow Winged Effigies ~ Flight of the soul (Courtesy of Carol Crowe Vivier)