We all have different traditions when it comes to commemorating and paying tribute to our loved ones who have passed away.
In today’s world, honoring the customs of others while commemorating the lives of the departed ought to come as standard practice. Some may choose to follow traditions or practices that the rest of us are not familiar with, but it doesn’t make them any less legitimate.
The same is true with gravestones and the ornamentation certain families choose to place over their loved ones’ last resting places. Coins being placed on headstones is one custom that is widely practiced and that you have probably witnessed at some point. However, why is this even a thing? And from whence did it originate? Continue reading to learn more.
Coins are traditionally placed on gravestones in cemeteries around the United States and other countries. When I was a little child, I first observed it when I was at my grandfather’s tomb, and even then, I started to wonder what it was all about.
Luckily, finding the beginnings online doesn’t need much research. Although it was previously thought that the practice originated with Roman military troops, a number of sources have disproved that theory in recent years.
Still, there’s a military connection to leaving pennies on gravestones. The American Legion Website states on one of its pages that it can be linked to the Vietnam War.
“Leaving a coin was considered a more practical way to communicate that you had visited the soldier’s grave than contacting the soldier’s family, which could devolve into an uncomfortable argument over politics relating to the war, due to the political divide in the country over the war.”
There are other reasons why veterans leave pennies on gravestones in memory of their fallen friends; occasionally, they do so in order to purchase a beer for them. Each coin represents a different meaning, according to reports.
For instance, a nickel is left by someone who served in boot camp with the deceased, whereas a penny just indicates that someone was present.
On the other hand, a dime represents a combined period of military service. Next are quarters, which inform the family of the presence of whoever left the coin at the moment of the loved one’s passing.
Ever notice a penny left on a gravestone? Were you aware of its meaning? Tell us in the comments below.
Keanu Reeves’ Shocking Injury on Set: You Won’t Believe What Happened!
Keanu Reeves is a much-loved celebrity, and everyone who’s met him has great things to say about him. So when he recently shared some bad news about himself, many people were worried.
Here’s what happened:
Keanu has been busy working on his new project, *Good Fortune*. He appeared on *The Late Show with Stephen Colbert* this week and shared a story that got people concerned.
The 59-year-old actor revealed that he broke his kneecap while filming. Known for his action roles in movies like *The Matrix* and the *John Wick* series, he explained that the injury came from something surprisingly minor.
Colbert asked, “What happened? Who got to you?”
The actor replied playfully in a tough guy voice, “No one got to me,” adding, “Accident got to me.”
“Were you jumping from building to building? Were you doing a cartwheel past razor blades? What were you doing?” Stephen further probed.
“No, Stephen, I was walking into the dressing room, a room. I will tell it quick,” Keanu explained.
Keanu explained that his injury happened while filming a comedy called *Good Fortune* with Aziz Ansari and Seth Rogen. The three were in a cold plunge, and Keanu was having a good time. Afterward, he was doing a “cold shuffle” in a room with soft carpets when his foot got stuck in a pocket.
To show what happened, Keanu walked in front of Stephen Colbert’s desk and demonstrated how his knee gave way. He described it as if his knee “spiked” into the ground.
He said his kneecap cracked like a potato chip, although he didn’t realize it at first. It wasn’t until his knee started swelling up that he knew something was seriously wrong.
“Comedy is hard, man,” Keanu added as a joke.
“This was not an action film with Aziz and Rogen,” Stephen clarified once again.
“No, it was comedy,” Keanu confirmed.
“Welcome to my life,” Stephen joked.
In January, Keanu was seen filming with crutches and an ice pack on his knee.
*Good Fortune* not only stars Aziz Ansari but is also his first time directing. He wrote and co-produced the movie, which also features Sandra Oh and Keke Palmer.
It’s great to hear that Keanu Reeves has recovered well. Feel free to share this update with anyone who wants to know how he’s doing!
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