Congressional Cemetery, Washington, D.C.

In keeping with the book theme of the past couple of days on the blog, carved on the top of this gravestone is an elaborately carved crown resting on a closed book with the following epitaph:

“YE SHALL RECEIVE A CROWN OF GLORY, THAT FADETH NOT AWAY.”

In some cases, a closed book, can represent the end of the story, or as in this case, the closed book symbolizes the Bible.  The clencher clue here are the two words, Holy Bible, carved into the spine. 

The crown represents the reward of Heaven.  I often heard my Mom or Dad say, “There’s going to be an extra jewel in their crown when they get to Heaven” when they were talking about someone who had done something extra generous for someone else;  something that really put the person out or took extra effort.   

Congressional Cemetery, Washington, D.C.