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🇺🇸 Coins on Headstones: Honoring Military Service If you’ve ever walked through a cemetery and noticed a coin placed on a veteran’s headstone, you may have wondered what it means.It’s more than a simple gesture — it’s a quiet way of saying thank you and a sign of respect from one service member to another.…

🌿 Cemetery Symbols and What They Mean Every cemetery is filled with quiet stories carved in stone.From angels to ivy leaves, from clasped hands to lambs — the art and symbols found on headstones speak a special language of faith, love, and remembrance.Understanding these symbols helps us see cemeteries not just as places of loss,…

🌿 The Purpose of Cemeteries: More Than a Final Resting Place When most people think of cemeteries, they think of loss — a place where loved ones are laid to rest. But cemeteries are also places of life, memory, and community. They quietly hold the stories of generations, connecting the past, present, and future. A…

🌿 The History of Cemeteries: From Churchyards to Memorial Parks Cemeteries have always been places of peace, remembrance, and reflection — but they haven’t always looked the way they do today. The story of how cemeteries evolved tells us a lot about how people, across generations, have understood life, death, and the importance of memory.…

My husband and I recently traveled to northern Maine to visit the gravesite of his parents. There were flowers on the headstone that my husband had placed there in the summer. It was Fall when we visited, and with Christmas coming up, he expressed how nice it would be to have someone who could place…

Cemeteries are some of America’s oldest community landmarks. In the earliest days of our nation, burials often took place in churchyards or small family plots on private land. As towns grew, so did the need for dedicated burial grounds, leading to the establishment of community cemeteries — often nonprofit or church-owned — where neighbors and…

Families often want to honor their loved ones by cleaning their headstones, but here’s the truth: improper cleaning can do more harm than good. Using household cleaners, wire brushes, or harsh chemicals can erode the stone, causing permanent damage. Proper cleaning requires gentle tools and the right solutions: Use soft-bristle brushes, not metal. Stick to…

Cemeteries are more than resting places — they are sacred spaces of remembrance. At Lutz Cemetery, we take our responsibility seriously. Families who purchased plots decades ago contributed to what is known as a perpetual care fund. This fund ensures that the cemetery grounds are cared for in perpetuity, meaning the beauty and dignity of…

For centuries, traditional burial was the default choice in the United States. A service, a casket, a gravesite—it was simply “how things were done.” But in recent decades, more and more families are choosing cremation over burial, driven by shifts in cultural traditions, financial considerations, environmental concerns, and personal preferences. A Brief History of Cremation…