Have you ever noticed coins left on the gravestones in a cemetery?

SFC Mark Merino — Thu, 21 Aug 2014 22:28:53 -0400

Posted for the benefit of the civilian supporters.

http://kygl.com/tradition-of-coins-left-on-the-gravestone-of-a-soldier/

Tradition of Coins Left on the Gravestone of a Soldier

You may have visited a cemetery before and may have seen a headstone with coins on it. Do you know why? I thought I would share with you the meaning of

Response by TSgt Terry Hudson made Aug 21 at 2014 10:40 PM

TSgt Terry Hudson — Thu, 21 Aug 2014 22:40:18 -0400

Negative! But that's cool! I think it very honorable!

Response by SGT Richard H. made Aug 21 at 2014 10:43 PM

SGT Richard H. — Thu, 21 Aug 2014 22:43:49 -0400

I had heard about it before. Several years ago I visited Arlington and I asked someone about it. It's a cool tradition. Thanks for sharing!

Response by SSG V. Michelle Woods made Aug 21 at 2014 10:47 PM

SSG V. Michelle Woods — Thu, 21 Aug 2014 22:47:01 -0400

Yes! I saw this on the path from USASOC to Third Group's Battalion headquarters. I wondered what they meant too.

Response by SPC Richard White made Aug 22 at 2014 12:51 AM

SPC Richard White — Fri, 22 Aug 2014 00:51:12 -0400

Just recently I was out at a National cemetery but I did not see any coins.However there were 2 of us paying respects to a former AI and SAI from the JROTC from our high school.We brought flowers and placed them.It was later in the day and there were some renovations being done to the cemetery.So it maybe possible money had already been collected.

Response by SPC David S. made Aug 22 at 2014 2:56 PM

SPC David S. — Fri, 22 Aug 2014 14:56:47 -0400

While some may argue that this is for beer money at Fiddler's Green this tradition goes way back to the Greeks and Roman Legions as a payment to get to the other side of a river. Today in the U.S. it is a way to show that someone has visited and paid their respect for the soldier. This started during the Vietnam War in the states. However different denominations have very different meanings:

A penny means someone visited.
A nickel means that the visitor and the deceased soldier trained at boot camp together
A dime means they were in the visitor's unit
and
A quarter means the visitor was there when they paid the ultimate price for our freedom.

The ancient Greeks would leave money on graves to be used by the deceased to pay the ferryman Charon for passage across the river Styx. The belief was those without money would wander the banks for all eternity, not able to cross.

Roman culture believed that dropping a coin and making a wish would ask the deceased person’s help. Romans usually buried their dead with coins inside the mouths because they believe the deceased had to pay a Dead Oarman to cross Deads River under the earth.

I was just at Bushnell in Florida for my mother's interment so I didn't get a chance to look around but the next time I visit I will surely keep my eyes open and have a pocket full of change.

What Do The Coins Left On Military Tombstones Mean?

Have you ever been in a cemetery and saw coins laying on a tombstone? There is actually a reason behind it.