Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania

"In cocoons, a hidden promise: Butterflies will soon be free!"  His butterfly seems to be a moth drawn to the light or to the lights of Three River Stadium in Pittsburgh. He might have lived a life cocooned in Steeler culture, and now as free as a butterfly. Mechanicsburg Cemetery. [2014]

Lovington, New Mexico

"In cocoons, a hidden promise: Butterflies will soon be free!"  He was probably cocooned in a wheel chair for much of his life, just waiting for the day he would fly off as a butterfly. Maybe he lived a hidden promise in that cocoon as he dreamed about riding that motorcycle all over the state of New Mexico. On this headstone, the hidden promise of the cycle seems to be revealed as a butterfly: off soars his spirit. Lovington Cemetery. [2018]

Matheney, West Virginia

"In cocoons, a hidden promise: Butterflies will soon be free!" Why are there so many butterflies in cemeteries? Because they are the ultimate symbol of freedom (apologies to bald eagles), just as it says on this headstone: ". . . now free as a butterfly, walking hand in hand with Jesus." Two butterflies perhaps double the freedom or perhaps just pay homage to the numeral 2, which accounts for more numbers on this headstone than any of its single-digit competitors. Palm Memorial Gardens. [2019]

El Dorado, Arkansas

Free-Range Figurines:  What is a better symbol of a free-range spirit: an eagle or a butterfly? In this case, the butterfly is as big as an eagle, so it is hard to say which is better. Butterflies, though, with their aerial antics have become popular symbols of disembodied spirits. Arlington Cemetery. [2018]

Odessa, Delaware

Voices from the Land of the Living ~ Third Person Singular Subjective Case:  "If she lives in your heart, she will never die." Drawyers Cemetery. [2018]

Sissonville, West Virginia

Pets at Peace:  A cat with a first, middle, and last name: Another example of anthropomorphism. And, if you ask yourself if pets have souls (anthropomorphism once again!), the answer here would be yes. The butterfly is usually employed to symbolize the soul. Floral Hills Cemetery. [2017]

Laurel, Delaware

Animalia Arthropoda Hexapoda ~ Insects:  There are 950,000 species of insects on planet earth. You will find some, including the butterfly, in cemeteries. Laurel Hill Cemetery. [2013]

Batesville, Indiana

On Heaven's Menu ~ . . . Pies:  It looks like a deep-dish apple pie made from scratch. There's the rolling pin used to make the dough. Main ingredient: love! Who can identify the wheeled contraption chosen to symbolize her husband's life? St. Louis Catholic Cemetery. [2013]

Greeley, Colorado

Rainbows in the Graveyard:  Do cemeteries put you in a reflective mood? Do you then quickly realize that graveyards are not dwelling places for the living? Would you look at a headstone like this and flee, knowing that you could make a difference in the land of flesh and blood? Maya Angelou may be speaking to you: "Try to be a rainbow in someone's cloud." Linn Grove Cemetery. [2013]


Fly, fly precious one
Your endless journey has begun
Take your gentle happiness
Far too beautiful for this
Cross over to the other shore
There is peace forevermore
But hold this memory bittersweet
Until we meet
Fly, fly do not fear
Don’t waste a breath, don’t shed a tear
Your heart is pure, your soul is free
Be on your way, don’t wait for me
Above the universe you’ll climb
On beyond the hands of time
The moon will rise, the sun will set
But, I won’t forget