Tombstone Inscription

[57th Indiana Infantry]

A few words are obscure due to a type of lichen growth.

An individual I've been researching since late last year, not a soldier, but killed by a soldier.

The father had his son's body brought home, nearly 1,500 miles. (Not family related)

Rest Dear One Rest
Here In Thy Native Land
Where Friends That Loved Thee Best
Around Thy Grave May Stand
Thy Days Were Short On Earth
But Farther May There Be
A Blessed And ____Reunion
In Eternity

 

[JPK Huson 1863]

Wow. What you've left out of the story makes it more poignant. It's a long inscription. " Happy Blest " Reunion?

Could that be " Thy Days Were Short ' On Earth ', instead of ' of, something?

 

[John Winn]

You can safely remove most of the lichen just using water and a plastic scraper (and/or a soft brush such as an old tooth brush). To get rid of it and really clean the stone will require a rather expensive product called D/2 and some time spent getting into the lettering. Wooden toothpicks or barbeque skewers work nicely. It looks like you could easily read the inscription with just a little cleaning.

Of course, there's the issue of permission but if it's in a cemetery that's not maintained I'd just do it. If it's privately-owned or city-owned you'd be on shaky legal grounds to clean it without permission (i.e. unless you're related). If there's an office you could always ask.

 

[Championhilz]

I believe line six reads, "But Rather may there be"

Line seven is "A _____ _____ blest reunion"

 

[Mrs. V]

The rhyming pattern is every other ending line..so there needs to be a word that rhymes with "be"

 

[Northern Light]

A Blessed Sweet Reunion? I think JPK Huson in right about "On Earth."

 

[57th Indiana Infantry]

I knew that more eyes and minds may/would fill in the missing words. Not for myself, but for the overall story, thanks. I thought this might be a good pre-start, I apologize for leaving out just about everything.

 

[Northern Light]

Glad we were of some help, 57th!

 

[JPK Huson 1863]

I knew that more eyes and minds may/would fill in the missing words. Not for myself, but for the overall story, thanks. I thought this might be a good pre-start, I apologize for leaving out just about everything.

Oh heck, guessing we'd all have done the same thing- tombstone block. What's so funny is trolling ( fishing trolling, not living under a bridge with a blue tooth mouse, trolling ) for those of us who spend far to much time in cemeteries, and finding us.

Thanks for bringing their story here, too. Just knowing this much is enough.

 

[Northern Light]

Deleted on mature reflection.

 

[John Winn]

.

 

[Northern Light]

.

?

 

[John Winn]

?

I retracted my post as I had second thoughts about it's appropriateness.

 

[Northern Light]

I retracted my post as I had second thoughts about it's appropriateness.

Okay. I am wondering if I should retract mine too.

 

[Northern Light]

Deleted on further reflection.

 

[AndyHall]

Everybody grieves in their own way.

 

[Northern Light]

Everybody grieves in their own way.

That is true, Andy, and why I deleted my post. It is my problem if I find it odd. Others may find me odd because I don't visit graves of people I love. Differences are what makes life interesting.

 

[AndyHall]

No worries, I didn't really mean that as a criticism, just an observation. I have to keep that in mind myself sometimes.

 

[Mrs. V]

I must says that I truely enjoy those grave stones that reflect the personality of the deceased. Especially the epitaph. Dunno if this was real, but I did think it hilarious..picture a rather large stone, upon which is writ a cookie recipe..because the deceased alway said she would reveal the recipe over her dead body...nothing I make is so special that I feel the need to keep what I make a secret, but I do know those people who do..

 

[Northern Light]

Here you go!

And a fudge recipe as well.