Types of Stones for Headstones

Graves and memorials mark the remembrance of your loved ones. Gravestones, headstones or tombstones are memorial markers made of stones and placed over or next to graves at the site of burial in a cemetery. They are simple upright slabs carved out of stone with semi-circular, rounded or arched shaped tops. This is mainly done for marking identification on the grave of the person resting in peace in the same cemetery where there are other graves as well. War memorial are monuments made to mark the celebration of victory and commemorate those who died or injured in the war

Special emblems indicated on tombstones have several themes. Some of the most common ones are Angel of grief (resembling sorrow); Birds (the soul); Book (faith, wisdom); Cherub (divine wisdom); Column (noble life); Conch shell (wisdom); Cross, anchor and Bible (trails, victory and reward); Crown (reward and glory); Dolphin (salvation, bearer of souls to heaven); Garland (victory over death); Evergreen (eternal life); Gourds (deliverance from grief); Dove (purity, love and holy spirit); Hands (a relation); Anchor (steadfast hope); Heart (devotion); Horseshoe (protection against evil); Hourglass (time and its swift flight); Ivy (faithfulness, memory and undying friendship); Lamb (innocence); Lily (purity and resurrection); Lamp (immortality); Laurel (victory, fame); Lion (strength, resurrection); Mermaid (dualism of Christ); Oak (strength); Olive branch (forgiveness and peace); Palms (martyrdom); Peacock (eternal life); Pillow (eternal sleep); Rooster (awakening and courage); Shell (birth and resurrection); Poppy (Eternal sleep); Star of David (the God); Skeleton (life cut short); Tree trunk (the beauty of life); Snake in a Circle (everlasting life in heaven); Crossed swords (life lost in battle); Broken sword (life cut short); Torch (Eternal life if upturned); Triangle (truth, equality and trinity) and Weeping willow (mourning and grief).

Monumental masons usually create, repair and install the headstones. Many types of stones are used for making tombstone or headstones. The most commonly used are:

• Granite: Granite is a hard stone and requires good level of skill and expertise for carving. The carving is generally done by hand, but, modern methods of using computer- controlled rotary bits and sandblasting has made the carving work easy.

• Marble or limestone: Marble or limestone is meant to be the best for carving. Skilled sculptors use percussion tools like mallets, axes, toothed hammers and adzes for hitting. For rough shaping of stone and block size needed for carving, pitching and wedge tools are used. Tools such as lettering chisels, points and claw chisels are used for chiseling the figures and symbols.

• Fieldstones: They are considered to be the earliest markers for graves. Natural fieldstones are made with carving of a symbol and the name and age of the rested person.

• Sandstone: Sandstone is a sedimentary rock and consist quartz and feldspar sand sized minerals or rock grains. It is a semi hard stone and can not break under normal circumstances, until and unless being dropped. Waterproofing is done on sandstone to enhance its surface resistant against water and protect it from dampness, fungus and algae.

• Slate: Slate is a textured stone, but slightly porous. It is mainly used for letter carving and often highlighted with white paint.

Design Your Own Headstone & Tombstone

The internet is truly amazing. Over the past few years, it's replaced the yellow pages, put a new spin on banking, and connected the world in ways never before imagined. Nowadays, there's very little that can't be accomplished with a few clicks of the mouse and a couple strokes of the keyboard. You can find just about anything on the internet. And, now, you can add designing your own headstone and tombstone to that list.

Of course, designing your headstone and tombstone isn't typically something you squeeze in between gardening and rushing your daughter off to soccer practice. But, it is something that people, eventually, devote some time and thought to. Certainly, there's an initial wave of morbidity hits you, but once you move past that, you should see the value in this opportunity. Designing your own headstone lets you have the final say. It allows you to add a personal touch to a grave marker that will memorialize you forever.

For many people, it's important that their personality shine through their headstones. For example, if you you're a soft-spoken, unassuming person, you might opt for a simple headstone mounted flat on your plot. If your personality is a bit louder, you might decide on a larger upright tombstone. Also, in addition to choosing the physical size and shape of your headstone, you also have the opportunity to write your own epigraph.

People have been writing their own epigraphs well before the internet. It allows you to get the final say. But, unlike before, you can see how it will look in a design template for your cemetery memorial.

A one liner, typically, is cheaper and more effective. But, if you're feeling lofty and poetic, go for it. These are in fact your last words—make them count!

Very few people like to actually think about death. But, like it or not, it's inevitable. So, rather than put the design of your headstone and tombstone on the shoulders of your mourners, take some time and let people remember you by something from you.

Why are Granite Headstones a Good Choice?

The loss of a loved one leaves a void that no one can fill. The grieving process is painful and families struggle to cope with the loss of a loved one. Long after the person has departed, the only things that remain are the memories that one will have to live with. The mortal remains will have a designated place in the cemetery and this is where the headstone will be placed and it will carry the relevant information of the loved one.

Headstones have changed over the years and they are not what they used to be centuries ago. Headstones are a very vital part of history. They help us identify the life and times of the person who is buried there. These serve as documented proof for historians.

Today, the memorial headstones have changed with the times. These days bodies are cremated due to lack of burial space and also because it is a more environment friendly option.

Even when the body is cremated the departed ones are given a memorial, and headstones are installed in the cemetery.

Care should be taken while choosing the headstones. If they are meant to last for ages, then granite headstones are the best option. These granite headstones and monuments are sturdy, long lasting, and require minimum maintenance. These days even the permanent headstones have changed. A simple plaque-like headstone is used to mark the grave of an individual. These are either made of bronze or granite. Sometimes it may be a combination of the two. This is normally placed at the head of the grave and directly above the ground. These help in preserving the memories of the individual.

Bronze headstones are a good option for permanent memorials. These include bronze plates with some special lettering as well as designs and the important details such as the name, date of birth as well as death etc. These bronze plates are then fixed to the granite slabs and installed in the cemetery as a beautiful memorial.

Earlier permanent memorials had huge upright pieces of stone that was sculpted, where there was written information regarding the individual’s grave that was marked. These types of memorials do exist even today, however, now these are used to mark a group of graves, such as the grave of the whole family. The upright, huge headstone and the smaller ones, all of them make a complete memorial of the family as a whole.

There are ‘pre-need’ memorials that are arranged by many people before they die. These headstones come with the inscription of the name of the individual at the time of purchase. If there are two names such as the individual as well as a companion, then both names are inscribed and then the date of deaths are added later on.

Headstones help us keep alive the memories of the near and dear ones that we lose. Granite headstones add the touch of elegance and charm that you would want to associate with a loved one always. To choose from a wide range of options, visit the website http://www.jermarmonuments.com/

The Importance Of The Headstones And Monuments

Headstones are typically used as the memorial of any person who has passed away to serve as a remembrance of their life. This stone is usually installed in a chosen cemetery and this is mainly done as the identification mark since there are many people resting in the same cemetery. There are many designs available for all types of these stones and it would be best to go through designs in websites so that you might get an idea on this stone design you must select while placing the order. It is natural that no one thinks about these stones unless someone is in the later stages of life or if a loved one has just passed away.

Have you ever heard about pre-need these stones where people choose to plan ahead? This stone can be ordered and set on a cemetery plot in advance without a death date engraved. This can be done by contacting the chosen cemetery, and a monuments company on the internet or locally to select this stone type and design.

Many families have already selected their final resting place and loved ones who discuss these decisions can call the cemetery to make sure all the procedures can be carried out with regards to the shipping and installation of this stone correctly without facing any issues. Details should also be given on the size and the letters that must be imprinted on the this stone. It would be wise to also ask your cemetery directly about the correct requirements regarding the size of the stone that is allowed in the cemetery along with the installation procedures and also the materials that can be used in the cemetery for making the this stone.

Granite is usually the most commonly used type of material for a headstone or tombstone. Material Type, Size and Design play an important role in head stone approval and installation at cemeteries. It is also best to be sure your design fits with the style accepted by the cemetery. For example, many religious cemeteries require religious symbols to be used. A few simple phone calls or visits can help ensure an easy ordering process for a loved one's head stone. Ordering a Headstone online can be pressure free to purchase and are generally at affordable prices with shipping free of cost to anywhere around the country.

The variety of Tombstones and Veteran monument Memorials

Death is the reality of life. Whosoever has taken birth has to face it someday. Graves and memorials are the mark of our respect and remembrance for the loved one who is not there anymore. These marks of respect and love are usually identified and decorated with the tombstones made from different materials. Tombstones and gravestone memorials are generally made of different materials and are placed on the site of the burial. Generally, tombstones are made from granite and marble because both can be easily carved by hand and machines and, at the same time, these are strong enough not to break during the carving process. You can have letters, alphabets, numbers, emblems and artwork be easily carved on them.

Veteran monument memorials mark the remembrance of those people who gave their lives for their country while fighting in the war or other such action against the enemy and achieved martyrdom. So it is a way to eternally honour a special person or group of persons who attained martyrdom while achieving the larger and important objectives for their country. These are the marks of respect and gratitude from their countrymen to the departed souls. Generally, the names of the servicemen are depicted on the monuments to be remembered for their acts of bravery and courage for an achievement.

Hand carved granite monuments are created by highly trained artisans with their expertise in making traditional and modern architectural artwork. The shapes, sizes, dimensions and designs depend upon the customer choice and budget. These monuments can be depicting the religious symbols, pets and other arts and symbols of things which were dear to the dead person. Then, there can be different shapes of these monuments. There are the top uprights grave markers, slant, oval, upright headstones, canopy, heart, etc. that can be developed by the trained artisans.

These cemetery markers are used for marking of the grave so that it can be identified from among a number of graves. It is being done for age old centuries. They are made of granite, sandstone, marble, limestone, slate, bronze or brass. Old cemetery marker monuments were made of tall thin marble or granite stone that either stood up in the ground at the site of the burial or laid flat with the name of the person rested in peace. The wear and tear of the monument due to the aging time can result in the cracking and breakage due to ground shifting and weather elements. So, the monuments do need to be repaired with the proper tools and materials and the task should be handed over to an expert.

There are websites offering customised designs for the tombstone and memorial monuments. The idea is to give the customer an opportunity to create and suggest the design and artwork of the monument or memorial according to his or her own choice. The price range varies depending upon the kind of material used and workmanship involved. The exclusivity of artwork and expensive marble or granite used in the monument means a bigger sum to be paid for any tombstone or monument.