|
|
|
|
The weeping willow was a sign of mourning but the sadness is tempered by the hope promised by the cross.
|
|
The palm branch is a sign of victory for those who have died in the peace of Christ.
|
|
The clasped hands is a promise that we will meet our deceased loved one again.
|
|
The dove with a bud in its beak is found on a five year old's tombstone. It is symbolic of a life that was never allowed to blossom in this life being brought to heaven to bloom.
|
|
The initials D.O.M. is short for the Latin phrase Deo Optimo Maximo which in English means "To God the best, the greatest."
|
|
The initials I.H.S. is a monogram of the name Jesus using the English equivalent of the first three letters of Jesus in Greek.
|
|
An interesting assortment of cattails, lily of the valley and fern leaves on the Barney headstone is perhaps reminiscent of the wilderness of the St. Joseph Valley of the early 1800s.
|
|
I have not been able to find any information on this odd image on the bottom of the Barney headstone. It seems to be either a broken bridge or a broken archway, again, with the Lily of the Valley flower and a semicircle in the lower left hand corner. Your guess is as good as mine!
|