Vineland, New Jersey

National Capitals on American Soil ~ Nicosia:  Between 1973 and 1989, there were two divided national capitals in the world. One was Berlin, but the Berlin Wall fell in 1989. The other one was Nicosia, which was divided in 1973. Nicosia is the capital city of what two defacto countries today? The Republic of Cyprus (capital = Nicosia) and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (capital = North Nicosia). In between is a U.N.-controlled buffer zone. Nicosia is now the last divided capital on earth. If you want to learn something more about the city, consult Geographically Yours. Siloam Cemetery. [2017]

Grand Blanc, Michigan

National Capitals on American Soil ~ Berlin:  Unlike Madrid, Paris, and London, Berlin never got a chance to be a dominant world city. (Not that it didn't try!) In fact, Berlin's problem was that there was no Germany to compete with maritime Europe when global empire building was at its height. Berlin was the capital city of what county when London lost its thirteen colonies in North America? Prussia. How about when World War I took place? German Empire. How about after the Iron Curtain descended across Europe? East Germany. How about after the Iron Curtain disintegrated? Germany. It is a convoluted political history. If you want to learn something more about the city, consult Geographically Yours. Evergreen Cemetery. [2018]

Panama City, Florida

National Capitals on American Soil ~ Paris:  In the late 1600s and early 1700s, Paris' chief rival was Amsterdam, not London, which was still a blip on the map of the future. When it came to building an overseas empire, however, Paris duked it out with London and both exceeded expectations. What was the capital of France when the British lost their hold on North America (thanks to the French)? If you said Paris, you would be right. It has always been the capital of France. In fact, it was the nucleus around which France was assembled. If you want to learn something more about the city, consult Geographically Yours. Forest Lawn Cemetery. [2018]

Bernalillo, New Mexico

National Capitals on American Soil ~ Madrid:  In the 1500s, London was simply a blip on the map of the future. With the circumnavigation of the world by the Magellan expedition, the capital of Spain became numero uno among world cities. What was the imperial capital when the Magellan expedition returned to Spain? If you said Madrid, you would be wrong. It was Toledo. It wasn't long, though, until Madrid took on that role. It has been the capital of Spain since 1561. If you want to learn something more about the city, consult Geographically Yours. Our Lady of Sorrows Cemetery. [2017]

Albemarle, North Carolina

National Capitals on American Soil ~ London:  London shares the honor of highest ranked global city with New York. London is the capital of what country? If you said England, you would be wrong. England does not have a capital (even though Wales and Scotland do). If you said the United Kingdom, you would be right. If you want to learn something more about the city, consult Geographically Yours. Fairview Memorial Park. [2019]

Portsmouth, New Hampshire

In the Arms of Angels:  Their (but really her) epitaph reads: "Girlfriends are family we choose for ourselves." These two angels are a little different from the others we have seen in the past few days, though. One appears to be female, the other male. And, they are the first angels we have seen without hearts. Perhaps it would be better if we had an angelologist to help us with this interpretation rather than an epigrapher, since the latter specializes in deciphering writing (graphein) upon (epi) the stone. Calvary Cemetery. [2019]

Wayne, Michigan

In the Arms of Angels:  Her epitaph reads: "God's Resting Angel." That epitaph is almost an epithet in the purest meaning of the word: a phrase that stands in for the person's name, to wit, something put (tithenai) in addition to or upon (epi) a name. In other words, you can just call her "God's Resting Angel" without using her name. How much resting do you think she did when she was alive? Westlawn Cemetery. [2018]

Kennewick, Washington

In the Arms of Angels:  Two young souls are embraced by by two angels and backed up by an epitaph that serves as an epilogue, words (logos) spoken after or upon (epi) the end of a play. "So go and run free with the angels . . . So go and run free with the angels." Riverview Heights Cemetery. [2019]

Mattoon, Illinois

In the Arms of Angels:  Enjoy the hug Andrea. Your soul, represented here by a heart, has been lifted above the earth, but your epitaph remains behind for generations of earthlings to read. It's an epic epitaph: epic (from Greek epos, meaning word) in the sense of "beyond the ordinary." You were so BELOVED, it was epic. Rest Haven Memorial Gardens. [2017]

Burrillville, Rhode Island

In the Arms of Angels:  His epitaph reads: "In the Arms of the Angels." These are the words that were left by his survivors over (epi) his tomb (taphos). Enjoy the angelic hug Michael: Enjoy it as an introduction to the posts for the rest of this week. St. Patrick's Cemetery. [2019]

Bernalillo, New Mexico

Only the Good Die Young:  Sunset came during the Advent season. While other younglings were preparing for the holiday, he was following the light of Jesus to heaven. He was only 16. He was buried in the appropriately named: Our Lady of Sorrows Cemetery. [2017]

Twin Falls, Idaho

Only the Good Die Young: He died at 19, as a king, no less. Now, his visage stares at us across time, giving us the only clue we have to what he was as a human being. Twin Falls Cemetery. [2020]

Rapid City, South Dakota

Only the Good Die Young:  He died in 1980 when he was only 15, but flowers are still being brought to the grave. What happened to him is every parent's nightmare: loosing a son or daughter before they have even a small chance to fulfill the promises of adulthood. At least, "surely now heaven is brighter." Calvary Cemetery. [2019]

Summerville, South Carolina

Only the Good Die Young: She barely completed two decades on earth. She should have completed at least eight. You know how much her family still misses her every day. Look at the year she died and the year this picture was taken [in brackets at the end of each caption]. Someone is still decorating the grave. Maybe time doesn't heal all wounds. Summerville Cemetery. [2012]

Fort Collins, Colorado

Only the Good Die Young:  His epitaph reads: "Only the Good Die Young." The good in his heart is the subject of loving scrolls from his mother and sister, who probably also authored the one on his love for music. Play on Roger: Play on as an introduction to the posts for the rest of this week. Rest Haven Memory Gardens. [2019]