What Does It Mean When You Put A Coin On A Veteran's Grave?

Have any of y'all ever visited the grave of an armed forces veteran and found coins on the headstone, or marker? If so, then please leave them be.

Unlike the loose change one might find laying around on the ground in a store, or parking lot, the coins placed on the graves of U.S. Veterans holds much more personal meaning as a way of honoring the dead.

In the United States, the tradition of leaving coins on the graves of veterans is rumored to have started during the Vietnam War (1964 - 1975) as a silent way for a veteran to communicate respect to the family of a deceased comrade during a time when the country was deeply divided.

The tradition of leaving coins is not actually sanctioned by any branch of the U.S. military, but rather serves as an unofficial token of respect by individual U.S. veterans themselves.

Each coin left actually holds a very specific and special meaning for the person who left it:

A penny means that someone stopped to visit the grave and paid their respects to the veteran.

A nickel means that someone stopped to visit the grave who went to basic training with the veteran.

A dime means that someone stopped who served together in the armed forces with the veteran.

And a quarter means that some was with the veteran in the grave when he/she was killed in battle, or passed away in the line of duty.

Coins left at National Cemeteries are usually collected and go towards keeping the grounds clean and maintaining the headstones, or to the care of living U.S. Veterans. 

At the rising of the sun and at its going down
We remember them.

At the blowing of the wind and in the chill of winter
We remember them.

At the opening of the buds and in the rebirth of spring
We remember them.

At the blueness of the skies and in the warmth of summer
We remember them.

At the rustling of the leaves and in the beauty of autumn
We remember them.

At the beginning of the year and when it ends
We remember them.

As long as we live, they too will live;
for they are now a part of us

as we remember them.
When we are weary and in need of strength

We remember them.
When we are lost and sick at heart

We remember them.
When we have joy we crave to share

We remember them.
When we have decisions that are difficult to make

We remember them.
When we have achievements that are based on theirs

We remember them.
As long as we live, they too will live;

for they are now a part of us
as we remember them.

~We Remember Them by Rabbis Sylvan Kamens & Jack Riemer