Veterans Day

Nov. 11, the 100th anniversary of the end of WWI was yesterday but today is a national holiday in the USA.  ( Called Veterans day here but also remembrance and armistice)   Today we walked by this civil war cemetery (graves of northwesterners who once fought in the civil war of 1861-1865). and were heartened to see the red roses someone had put on many of the graves  .and a penny coin on most of the 526 graves there.   Putting coins on graves dates back to the Roman times and signifies a visit with respect and remembrance.    I looked it up ..these coins have distinct meanings when left on the stone of someone who gave their life while serving in America’s military.  A penny simply tells the family that you visited with respect, , a nickel indicates that you and the deceased trained at boot camp together , a dime means you served with him in some capacity, and a quarter is telling the family that you were with the soldier when he was killed.  
There are also superstitions that compel people to leave money on a loved one’s grave. According to Greek legend, Charon, the ferryman of Hades, requires payment of one coin to ferry your loved one’s soul across the river Styx that separates the living from the dead. Historically the coins were placed in the mouths or over the eyes of the deceased.  People who can’t pay the fee are doomed to wander the shores of the river for 100 years.  Reason enough to leave a coin, I think.  


No poppies here …the extra is a photo of Moina Michael, the woman who was inspired by John McCrae’s poem, “In Flanders Field” to use the poppy as a symbol of remembrance for those who served in WWI.   Now I believe it includes all who served in seemingly endless wars.  (I took this with Fiona in the MOHAI museum on Friday after reading her about the army surgeon poet and his poem. the other extras...well the poem won't post, but you know it probably.)