Guymon, Oklahoma

The First Shall be Last, and The Last First:  You can't get any further to the front of the line than having the name of the world's first man. Nevertheless, John Adams was our third president, not our first. Our first president had a name that put him close to the end of the line, but he overcame the obstacles and emerged as number one. Elmhurst Cemetery. [2017]

Balko, Oklahoma

Give Me That Old-Time Technology:  In the 1960s, the dial gave way to push buttons, while size and shape remained the same. These touch-tone phones persisted well into the 21st century: not in people's homes but in offices everywhere. It is comforting to know that this skier can handily dial 911 if he is injured. Gray Cemetery. [2018]

Crawford, Oklahoma

Identity Headwear ~ Cowboys:  Hats off to the American cowboy. You will know him by his hat. In fact, the cowboy hat may be the most common headwear on cemetery tombstones. Thank you John Batterson Stetson. Now, take a look at the names of their kids: perfect Western imagery. Silent Home Cemetery. [2018]

Elk City, Oklahoma

The Last Shall Be First, and The First Last:  It seems so fitting that the Roman censor who dismissed Z from the Latin alphabet had a first name that started with A: Appius Claudius Caecus. You may not have heard of him, but his legacy is legion. His A-name is applied to "the queen of the long roads," the state-of-the-art highway that led from Rome south to Brindisi. It has been called the Appian Way (Via Appia) for over two millennia. As for Zollman: probably German, and originally Bavarian. Fair Lawn Cemetery. [2018]

Guymon, Oklahoma

Surname Initials as Identifying Logos ~ S:  The letter S is the 7th most frequently used letter in the English language. Here, it is presented as a cattle brand, one that now brands a couple of departed souls. Even if you are not a rancher, it might be fun to design a brand for your own headstone. Here are some guidelines. Elmhurst Cemetery. [2017]

Guymon, Oklahoma

Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the United Methodist Church:  The two states with the highest proportion of United Methodists are West Virginia and Oklahoma. That's why it is not hard to find the flame and cross in these states' graveyards. The Methodist brand was born with the United Methodist Church fifty years ago this week. Elmhurst Cemetery.  [2017]

Guymon, Oklahoma

Celebrating the Flag and the Fourth with Music:  Independence Day stirs feelings of patriotism even in cemeteries, where American flags seem to be the perfect complement to holiday celebrations. When you see them, you may think of some patriotic tunes that fit the mood of the day. What's this one?
     "Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight,
     O'er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming?
     And the rockets red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
     Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.
     Oh, say does that star-spangled banner yet wave
     O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?
Recognize it? If not click here. Elmhurst Cemetery. [2013]

Guymon, Oklahoma

Spring Comes to the Cemetery:  Late April brings the redbuds to life in the Oklahoma panhandle. It may be the region's most popular ornamental tree. That means, of course, that it is a common component of cemetery landscapes as well as front yards, thereby making last resting places more like life resting places. Elmhurst Cemetery. [2017]