Cheyenne, Wyoming

The First Shall be Last, and The Last First:  Sometimes an epitaph captures perfectly not just the essence of the person but the essence of the era: "Don't call me unless it's important." He would have entered the job market in the 1950s and probably been the epitome of "the organization man," a surmise underwritten by his duds. His A-name, of course, would have been an asset as he moved up in the organization. Olivet Cemetery. [2013]

Cheyenne, Wyoming

The Last Supper:  From the Passover meal, Jesus and the disciples left the 'upper room' in Jerusalem and went to the Garden of Gethsemane, where Jesus confronted his final hours. Arrest came the next day in the wee hours of the morning. The disciples quickly fled the Master, and even Peter denied knowing him. Olivet Cemetery. [2013]

Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane
Source: Concordia News

Cheyenne, Wyoming

The Cemetery as an Aviary: The eagle is mentioned 34 times in the Bible. Probabably the most famous verse is from Isaiah, who tells us that those who serve the Lord "shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings as eagles, they shall run and not be  weary, and they shall walk and not faint." What a promise! And, what an explanation for the eagle's frequent appearance in cemetery art. However, we all know that most eagles in cemeteries are there because the eagle is the secular saint of American patriotism. On gravestones, the eagle is often used to symbolize patriotism, freedom, pride, and the power of dreams. Olivet Cemetery. [2013]

Cheyenne, Wyoming

Patriotism at the State Scale:  Or should this be called tribalism at the state scale? The bucking bronco has been a persistent symbol of Wyoming identity for decades (and probably longer). Perhaps its role in the cemetery is to proclaim the value of those who helped to tame the American frontier. What do you make of the numerical symbolism? Lakeview Cemetery. [2013]

Cheyenne, Wyoming

O is for Ornelas:  Jesus is not a common name in the English-speaking world but it is common among Spanish-speakers. Of course, it is pronounced differently, and more like the original Greek. Around the world the name Jesus spread, from the eastern Mediterranean, to Greece, then Rome, onto Spain and then the Americas. But the cultural boundary between Hispanic and English culture acted as a barrier to diffusion. Instead, Anglophones adopted the Hebrew name for Christ: Joshua, from Yeshu. As for Ornelas, it means "place of eagles." Mount Olivet Cemetery. [2013]

Knapp, Wisconsin

X is for Xiong:  He was head of his village in Laos when he was 28. He left his village (probably the one on his headstone) when he was 58; the year was 1975. The Hmong had been loyal to the Americans in the Vietnam War and were rewarded with an airlift (see it?) and resettlement in the United States. They came as refugees and became loyal American citizens. Now, to refugees, the United States is on the verge of saying 'no'. Forest Hill Cemetery. [2012]

Laramie, Wyoming

Full-Color Dual Patriotism:  Here's a departed thirty-something with one foot in the United States, one foot in Canada, and a final resting place in Wyoming. Perhaps dual allegiance ought to be encouraged rather than seen as a threat to American patriotism. Not that Canada is a threat, but think of how many foreign flags might be interpreted in just that way if they appeared in a context like this. Green Hill Cemetery. [2013]

Laramie, Wyoming

Full-Color Patriotism:  Neither he nor the flag is at rest. He's running and the flag is fluttering. These pictorial elements contradict the usual message of cemetery landscapes, which often shout:  "Rest in Peace." Green Hill Cemetery. [2013]

Cheyenne, Wyoming

Proud Public Servants ~ The Police:  His survivors must have been proud of his role in bringing some peace of mind to urban Wyoming. Not only did they put his picture on his headstone, they also made sure the Officer's badge and uniform were there for everyone to see. Mount Olivet Cemetery. [2013]

Laramie, Wyoming

Irish Clover as Totem:  St. Patrick's Day comes and goes, but shamrocks on rocks stay around forever. Here's a couple that would have so enjoyed all those parades last week-end. Can anyone identify the other stem on the headstone? Greenhill Cemetery. [2013]

Laramie, Wyoming

Reflecting on Life ~ "End of Construction: Thank You For Your Patience":  There are two ways to understand his parting words. What words have you uttered daily that might throw a whole new light on the life you have lived? Green Hill Cemetery. [2013]

Cheyenne, Wyoming

Philosophy of Life ~ "We Took The Road Less Traveled":  The epitaph speaks for a husband-and-wife team: They took the road less traveled. And, then, the road ended. Lakeview Cemetery. [2013]

Laramie, Wyoming

The Western Windmill ~ In Western Cemeteries:  Premer Ranch is now for sale: $1,275,000. How will this small patch of the Laramie Plains change? Here's an on-line clue from the agent who's selling it: ". . . a great opportunity for upside potential as Laramie and Wyoming continue to grow. Power and phone are at the ranch. Excellent well water and easy access from US Highway 30/287. Varied topography would provide for excellent small ranch sites and horse properties."  Now, look at the picture the agent has chosen to advertise the property. If there is one element of the cultural landscape that establishes the Laramie Plains' spirit of place, it may be the western windmill. Green Hill Cemetery. [2013]

Source: Western United Realty
http://www.ranchbrokers.com/Wyoming-Ranches/Premer-Ranch.html

Cheyenne, Wyoming

The Western Windmill ~ In Western Cemeteries:  As essential as the windmill was in the East, it was even more essential west of the 20-inch rainfall line. As farming gave way to ranching, windmills became the only way to keep the herds hydrated. They provided the know-how for getting ground water to the surface. Mount Olivet Cemetery. [2013]

Cheyenne, Wyoming

Getting Ready for Mother's Day:  "Our Beloved Mother" is commemorated on a frilly couch cushion that has been etched into granite. Even though it's rock hard, it looks soft and comforting: of the type she might have made, were she skilled with needle and thread. She's been gone for sixteen years now, but look at all the 'grave goods' that populate the contiguous zone. Her children must miss her still. Mount Olivet Cemetery. [2013]

Our Beloved Mother

Laramie, Wyoming

The Cemetery as a Praying Place:  Whenever we stroll through a Christian burial ground, we are reminded of the advice we get in I Thessalonians: "Pray without ceasing." Praying hands, large (as here) or small, are among the most frequent icons of faith on grave markers. They are the hands of Jesus praying in the Garden of Gethsemene; they are the hands of the deceased delivering a final plea for mercy; they are the hands of loved ones left behind in an eternal prayerful pose. Green Hill Cemetery. [2013]

Our Loving Parents

Laramie, Wyoming

Getting Ready for Good Friday:  The night before Jesus was crucified, the disciples gathered for the Passover meal. Said Jesus to his closest companions: "Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me." Surprise and nervous chatter followed. That was the moment captured by Leonardo da Vinci in his famous fresco. Which one of the disciples betrayed Jesus? Can you find him in the line-up on this headstone? Green Hill Cemetery. [2013]

Laramie, Wyoming

Signature Landscapes:  The signature captures the forward motion of the cyclist, doesn't it? It also captures the energy of grammar schools devoted to teaching cursive. The influence of Peterson looms large over this headstone, though only those of a certain age will even know what 'Peterson' means. The problem with the subscriptio is that it's almost too perfect, perhaps font-perfect. Green Hill Cemetery. [2013]

Laramie, Wyoming

Green Hill Cemetery:  Not only do we have a map here, we have a conservation problem that is typical for granite headstones in dry regions. Out-a-limb hypothesis: feldspar in granite that has not been polished (lines, letters, images) is undergoing chemical weathering as rain water (slightly acidic) pools in cuts, becomes a clay-ey solution, and leaves a trail as it evaporates while weeping. Now, please, let's have an expert's assessment. . . . [2013]

Laramie, Wyoming

Focus on Green Hill Cemetery:  The western cemetery "often began as an unkempt 'boot hill,' reflecting the violent early days of mining camps and cattle towns, and quickly grew into a 'fair mount,' [or 'green hill'!] the western version of a rural cemetery": so sayeth Annette Stott in Pioneer Cemeteries. No longer is Laramie's chief burial ground unkempt, and western themes have often been left behind in favor of contemporary icons (hearts) and secular language: "End of construction. Thank you for your patience." Let's guess what he did for a living. [2013]