Susquehanna Headstones - Cemetery Markers, Emblems and Art

Symbols

Cobb, Emery S military plaque

Emery S Cobb military plaque

Cuba

Spanish War Veteran

Army

United

Navy

1858 1902

USA

Philippine Islands

Puerto Rico

Double Headed Eagle

Ancient symbol of power and respect. Used by the Freemasons also as a symbol of the dual nature of unity. This particular eagle indicates a 32nd degree Mason. (2)

Markers

Dodge, C.B. GAR flags

Military plaque for C.B. Dodge

Tanner, Clark S GAR star

Adams, Joshua K DAR marker

The excessive amount of red is in the photo, not the marker.

Cary, John Jr

John Jr Cary GAR star

Wilson Dau of Eastern Star and DAR Emblems

These emblems are against the north side of the stone for John C & Lou Kent Wilson. The Daughter of the Eastern Star emblem indicates membership in the female counterpart of the Freemasons.(2) DAR is membership in Daughters of the American Revolution.

Taylor, Sergt Lee A emblem

This marks Sgt Lee Taylor as a veteran of the Spanish-American War.

Street, David R Knights of Pythias marker
Knights of Pythias -- Founded in 1864 by Justus H Rathbone as a secret society of government clerks. The fraternity was based on the tale of friendship and trust exhibited by Phintias and Damon in the fifth century BC. A tale in which Phintias is sentenced to death by Dionysus, but Damon offers himself as bond so that Phintias can travel and give his goodbyes. When Phintias did not return, Damon offered himself in Phintias' place. At the last minute, Phintias returned, Damon was released and Dionysus, so impressed with the mens' friendship and trust, pardoned Phintias.

"FCB" = Friendship, Charity and Benevolence.

("Stories in Stone: A Field Guide to Cemetery Symbolism and Iconography", Keister, Douglas. Gibbs Smith, publisher. 2004. Pp 184.

Owens, Garfield P WWII Emblem

Order of the Eastern Star
This is on the MacPeek Raub grave

This is more specifically symbolic of a Past Matron of the Order of the Eastern Star. OES is the female counterpart to the freemasons. The center letters "FATAL" refers to a double meaning of an oath taken by a member when a degree is bestowed on her: the first the word Fatal -- it would be fatal to the character of a lady if she disclosed any of the secrets of the order, the other is an acronym for Fairest Among Ten-thousand Altogether Lovely.

"Stories in Stone: A Field Guide to Cemetery Symbolism and Iconography"Keister, Douglas. 2004. Gibbs Smith, Pub. PP 194-95.