Stockton, Maryland

Lighthouse Theology 5:  Psalm 27:1 ~ "The Lord is my light and my salvation. Whom shall I fear?" KJV ~ "The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?" Union Greenbackville Cemetery. [2019]

Baltimore, Maryland

Burial or Cremation?  If someone is cremated, the problem becomes what to do with the ashes, or cremains. Option 2: Bury the ashes above ground. The advantage is that you have to buy only a burial niche. The disadvantages are (a) you get only a small tableau on which to recount the person's virtues and (b) you get a home that looks very vulnerable to the vertical. Let's hope this is not an earthquake-prone area. New Cathedral Cemetery. [2014]

Elkridge, Maryland

Give Me That Old-Time Technology: The sad thing is that computers used by our federal employees probably still look like this. Don't believe it? Just ask anyone who works for the government. When you think of infrastructure, think computer systems, not just roads and bridges. Meadowgrove Cemetery. [2018]

Thurmont, Maryland, USA

Cemetery Visitors:  He comes here regularly to visit the grave of his grandparents. Here lies his grandmother. Perhaps she had a flower garden at home, so her survivors wanted her to have one at her final resting place as well. Wellers Cemetery. [2013]

Beltsville, Maryland

The Last Shall Be First, and The First Last:  Do you remember what position Z occupied in the Hebrew alphabet? It was the seventh letter. And, it entered the Roman alphabet at position number seven as well. Then, it was judged to be useless (by Appius Claudius Caecus) and thrown out. It was replaced by the letter G. When Z was added back two centuries later, it was assigned to the end of the queue. As for Ziepolt: probably German and very rare. St. John's Episcopal Church Cemetery. [2018]

Colesville, Maryland

Voices from the Land of the Living ~ Third Person Singular Subjective Case:  "She sang the songs. He preached the Word." Colesville Cemetery. [2017]

Hagerstown, Maryland, USA

Voices from the Land of the Living ~ First Person Plural Subjective Case:  "Always N 4ever, we love & miss you." Rest Haven Cemetery. [2018]

Hagerstown, Maryland

Surname Initials as Identifying Logos ~ U:  The letter U is the 13th most frequently used letter in the English language. As a stand-alone initial, however, it was the hardest to find on a headstone! But, sure enough, in a part of the country where German names prevailed, there was an uptick in U surnames. [2018]

Denton, Maryland

The Methodist Churchyard:  When you had to pass over the graves of family and friends on your way to the sanctuary, you had no trouble focusing on the soul-saving messages emanating from the pulpit. The journey to church was a weekly reminder of your own mortality. Concord United Methodist Church Cemetery. [2013]

Elkridge, Maryland

Pet Aftercare ~ The Case of Noah's Ark:  Their "little angel" lies buried here, under the watching care of Noah. The pet section at Meadowridge has existed since 1980, and it is growing. Just think: about 7 out of 10 households in the U.S. have a dog or cat. Noah's Garden of Pets at Meadowridge Cemetery. [2018]

Elkridge, Maryland

Pet Aftercare ~ The Case of Noah's Ark:  Anthropomorphism: You may may been warned about it in a psychology or anthropology class, but it is alive and well in pet cemeteries. We have made pets human: "Our darling baby, best friend we ever had. . . " There has been a major shift in how we view pets and how we send them off to the afterlife. Noah's Garden of Pets at Meadowridge Cemetery. [2018]

Elkridge, Maryland

Pet Aftercare ~ The Case of Noah's Ark:  The number of pet cemeteries in the U.S. is approaching 1000, and they are also popular in at least 15 other countries. This one is located adjacent to a human cemetery on the outskirts of Baltimore. It is named after the Biblical character who is more revered in the animal kingdom than God herself. Noah's Garden of Pets at Meadowridge Cemetery. [2018]

La Plata, Maryland

Voices from the Grave ~ First Person Singular Subjective Case:  "I won't be far away for life goes on so if you need me call and I will come. And, if you listen with your heart, you'll hear all my love around you soft and clear." Sacred Heart Cemetery. [2017]

Frederick, Maryland

The Last Supper:  Leonardo portrayed Jesus and his disciples at the very moment when he revealed that one of them would betray him. Can you find the traitor in one of the images below? He is the one who doesn't seem to have sprung from his chair after Jesus' announcement. Mt. Olivet Cemetery. [2014]

Which one is Judas Iscariot?

Baltimore, Marylnad

How Many Leaves on an Irish Clover ~ Five?  This five-leaf clover is all about Eternal Love. That's why the leaves are shaped like hearts. Judging from the dates, these two were sweethearts were in high school together. married when they were in their 20s, and did not part until he died at the young age of 33. How many children did they have? Three. Now, do the math, and  you will know why the clover has five leaves. Oak Lawn Cemetery. [2014]

Frederick, Maryland

Theatrically Yours:  If you want the world to know you loved the theater, add the Greek theater masks to your memorial stone. In this case, the icons hover above both of them (like spirits), insinuating that they shared a love for the stage. Note, also, the proportions of the headstone and how it is designed to resemble a stage: with a curtain that has just lifted. Or is it just ready to fall? Mt. Olivet Cemetery. [2014]

Damascus, Maryland

One True Love ~ The Family Farm:  Aerial oblique, but a sketch, not a photo. What crop did they pick to symbolize their connection to the land? Wheat, a symbol of resurrection. That fits the inclusion of a church, perhaps their church, way out there on the other side of the fence. Orthodox Syrian Church Cemetery. [2007]

Salisbury, Maryland

The Cemetery as an Aviary:  From the wetlands of the Delaware to the wetlands of the Chesapeake, ducks are popular components of headstone design. These look like wood ducks. Nevertheless, like all ducks, they symbolize decisiveness and the ability to leave the past in the past. Parsons Cemetery. [2017]

Big Pool, Maryland

Garden Flags as Aides Memoires:  Welcome. Your family wants to make your new home as much like your old home as possible. Remember the vincas that loved to welcome visitors? Remember the rabbits that used to put on quite a show in the spring? Remember the flag that flew in front of the house? Remember the street lights that turned night into day? And never forget the church in whose graveyard you now lie. St. Paul's United Methodist Church Cemetery. [2015]

Frederick, Maryland

The Confederate Battle Flag Lives On:  In the Confederate section of Frederick's famous rural cemetery, the battle flag seems an appropriate honor for those who died in the Battle of Antietam or as a result of wounds sustained there. These markers honor both known and unknown soldiers. The original headstones have been supplemented by new ones: only the date of death is recorded. All of these died in September 1862. Mt. Olivet Cemetery. [2010]