New York, New York

V is for Vachon:   For over two hundred years, the body of this Revolutionary War solder has lain in the churchyard of St. Paul's Chapel in Lower Manhattan. What makes his grave interesting is the mixture of languages on his headstone.  French and English are both there: His last name is clearly French (from vache, meaning cow) but his first name is clearly anglicized from François. Here's proof that New York was already one of the world's commercial hubs, whose fortunes are always built on diverse cultural geographies. In fact, Mr. Vachon's French language may have served him well in the corridors of commerce along the waterfront. In some small way, his life contributed to the triumph of New York over Philadelphia as the nation's largest city. St. Paul's Churchyard. [2014]

Honolulu, Hawaii

Obelisks as Memorials:  Is an Egyptian pharaoh buried here? No. But if one of the Ramses were to appear graveside today, he would feel right at home. Whoever is buried with an obelisk on top will be remembered as a pharaoh in his own right. The headstones at the base of the obelisk force visitors to bow their heads, and the obelisk pointing skyward forces them to lift their eyes to heaven. It is performance art that communicates humility and awe. Oahu Cemetery. [2011]

Charleston, South Carolina

Symbolizing Hope:  Because they needed more room for burials, the congregants of Charleston's German Evangelical Lutheran Church purchased Bethany Cemetery in 1856. After that, headstone lexicon began to appear in German.  The symbolic language, however, spoke across linguistic divides. Today, Anglophones may not be able to read the inscription, but they are able to read the anchor. Bethany Cemetery. [2012]

Texarkana, Texas

Pastor Buried Here:  America's French underbelly stretches along the Gulf Coast. It's an anomaly on the cultural map: It's Roman Catholicism contrasts sharply with the Protestant Christianity that overwhelms the South. Here is evidence that this Roman Catholic region looked overseas for leadership. Rev. Father Barbin was born in France. Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery. [2012]

Fernandina Beach, Amelia Island, Florida

Artist Buried Here:  Here's a complete tableau: a portrait of the painter with palette and easel, plus the subject she is painting: her husband's trawler. He is not on board, though; he is buried at sea. She outlived him by 36 years but never got over her Skipper's loss. Even as an elderly matron, she memorializes his life at sea and his death so long ago. Bosque Bello Cemetery. [2009]