Sunday, May 25, 2014

Celebrating Memorial Day

by Nancy McCammon-Hansen

Those of you who have read this blog for awhile know that one of my hobbies is studying history via headstones. So Saturday morning my husband and I ventured over to the Catholic Cemetery on Lake to enjoy the sun and take some photos. I'm sharing some of those photos here as a way to once again encourage you to study history all of your life….and to realize history can be found just about anywhere.


You often find religious symbols on headstones and this is an excellent example. If you visit Normandy in France, you will note that many of the headstones have either crosses or Stars of David on them.


Get out of the car in a cemetery and walk among the graves. The etchings on the headstones can tell  you a great deal about not only the person buried in this spot but also about the times in which they lived.


This headstone commemorates the life of someone who died in 1898.


Obelisks are common in both the Catholic Cemetery and Lindenwood at the end of Main Street and Jefferson Boulevard.


This is the first headstone that I have every seen with a bust of the person--Dr. H.G. Nierman-- who is buried there. This gentleman was quite young when he died and I would love to know more about his life.


This is how the headstone looks in its "neighborhood".


Many of the Poor Handmaids are buried in the Catholic Cemetery and this marker denotes that area.


The markers for the sisters are, for the most part, consistent in size and plain in design.


By contrast, high ranking clergy who are buried across the cemetery street have more intricately designed headstones.

Cemeteries can be extraordinary places to visit, so please remember the real reason for Memorial Day as you celebrate the weekend.  And the next time you have the chance, tour one of Allen County's many beautiful resting places.




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