Gravely Speaking

Lake View Cemetery, Seattle, Washington

The lotus plays prominently in ancient Egyptian and the Eastern cultures.

According to Egyptian mythology, the lotus flower rises up out of the primordial ooze from which all life was created, opened, and the sun itself arose from the tender pink flower.  The lotus symbolizes creation and rebirth most likely because of its unique ability to bear fruit and flower at the same time.  The lotus also symbolizes the sun because at night the lotus sinks under the water, but rises out of the water in the morning, its flower opening and following the sun during the day, to close again when the sun goes down.

In Eastern cultures, the lotus is revered, as well, as a symbol of purity and spiritual grace.  Buddhists view the stem of the flower as the axis on which the world spins.  Buddha is often pictured seated in the center of the flower.

Grove Lawn Cemetery, Pendleton, Indiana

The United States flag is almost exclusively used as a symbol on the gravestones of veterans.  The flag is the symbol of our country and denotes patriotism and love of country.  It is displayed on the graves of veterans because of their devotion and their sacrifice made in the service of our country.

A dramatic example of this can be found in the the Grove Lawn Cemetery in Pendleton, Indiana, on Jonathan W. Zeublin’s (1838- 1919) gravestone.   An immense block of gray granite has been carved to look as if an American flag is draped over the stone.  The flag is so convincingly carved it almost looks as if a big gust of wind could carry it aloft.  The ripples and the draped fabric of the flag is amazingly realistic.  The alternating stripes of our flag are made by highly polishing a stripe and leaving one rough finished to make the contrast between the red and white stripes.  The same technique is used for the stars in the canton, which are polished while what would be the blue background is left matte.

The flag drapes over the face of the stone which displays the G.A.R. (Grand Army of the Republic) medal that veteran soldiers who fought for the North wore to commemorate their service.  Jonathan Zeublin joined Company B, 89^th Regiment, Indiana Volunteers as a private on August 8, 1862.  Zeublin had a somewhat meteoric rise in the service.  He was elected a first sergeant and within twenty days of entering the service was commissioned a lieutenant.  One of the campaigns in which Zeublin fought was the Battle of Mumfordsville, Kentucky, which occurred September 14^th through the 17^th.  The fighting ended in a Confederate victory with over 4,000 casualties and losses for the Union side and a little over 700 on the Confederate side.  In 1863, due to injuries sustained during the course of his short tenure in the Union Army, Zeublin was forced to resign.  He returned to Pendleton, Indiana, to work as a merchant.  He married, had a family and belonged to the Methodist Church and the Odd Fellows Lodge.  But Zeublin chose only to commemorate his service in the Army on his gravestone.

Grove Lawn Cemetery, Pendleton, Indiana

Grove Lawn Cemetery, Pendleton, Indiana

Wheat’s origins are unknown but is the basis of basic food and a staple in many cultures. Because of wheat’s exalted position as a mainstay foodstuff, it is viewed as a gift from Heaven.

Wheat symbolizes immortality and resurrection.  But, like many symbols found on gravestones, they can have more than one meaning.  For instance, because wheat is the main ingredient of bread, the sheaf of wheat can represent the Body of Christ.  Wheat can also represent a long life, usually more than three score and ten, or seventy years.

Coupled with the epitaph, “Gathered Home,” the wheat, in this case, suggests that the sheafs of wheat are gathered together like Christian souls on their way to Heaven.

Grove Lawn Cemetery, Pendleton, Indiana