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