San Diego, California

Focus on Home of Peace Cemetery:  The headstone here finds itself in the middle of a web of relationships: to world history, to languages, to family, and to the arts.  Both made aliyah in the 1930s; they were part of the return migration of the exiles to their 'promised land.' In two languages are they honored: English and Hebrew, the former indicative of loyalty to the U.S. and the latter indicative of loyalty to Judaism. Each was loved by children and grandchildren. Note, especially, the very possessive our.  Both were recognized as talented artists, but Benjamin's monochrome takes center stage as a bridge between husband and wife. Do you know why the bouquet of roses fits so well? Shoshana, in Hebrew, means 'rose.' By coincidence, as well, the historic Jewish neighborhood in San Diego was Roseville, founded by Louis Rose. [2013]

San Diego, California

Focus on Home of Peace Cemetery:  Lots of laws (religious, that is) surround Jewish burials: purification of the remains, rending the garments, inhumation within 24 hours, no cremation, no above-ground burial, and interment only among fellow Jews. Sometimes, Jewish burial grounds are separate cemeteries of their own. Other times, they are sections of larger cemeteries. Home of Peace opened in 1892 when a corner of Mount Hope Cemetery was sold to a local congregation. [2013]

Texarkana, Arkansas

Voices Silenced:  Respect from a friend as recorded in the ether: "Larry Kent died in 2003 after a four-month battle with cancer. Larry was the consummate pro, starting here in Texarkana in the early 1960s. He moved back here to run the family music store when his father died. He started his own consulting firm in 1996. Larry was a good friend and one of radio's best." State Line Cemetery. [2012]

Radio's Larry Kent

Blanding, Utah

Voices Silenced:  He could talk to his wife, who sat knitting across the room. Or, he could talk to the world through the mic on his desk. He was born in the decade when commercial radio began to monetize the air waves, but he was content to pioneer those same airwaves as two-way communication bands, thus setting the stage for all of the interactive communication technologies we have today. Blanding City Cemetery. [2013]

Aurora, Colorado

Voices Silenced:  The microphone, the infectious smile, the dancing double notes: They seem to contradict the symbolism of the bench. Was this someone at rest or someone who kept the world moving? Probably the latter, and probably the earth slowed down just a little bit with his passing. St. Simeon Catholic Cemetery. [2013]

Rest in Paradise Baby Boy
Love Mom
Our Love Will Reign With You For Eternity
Love Dad

Freeland, Maryland

Dead End Street:  Never more true. . .
Mount Zion United Methodist Church Cemetery. [2013]

Sulphur Springs, Texas

One Way Do Not Enter:  Good advice. . .
Sulphur Springs City Cemetery.  [2012]