Military Symbols on Tombstones - What Do They Mean

Memorial day is approaching very fast. Many of you will be visiting the gravesites of your loved ones with arms full of flowers. You might even be remembering the good times you had and the sad times.

Have you ever laid flowers on one of your ancestors' grave that the head stone had a symbol engraved in it? Have you ever wondered what the symbol means?

As a girl in grade school, my sister and I use to go with our Grandfather to the cemetery before Memorial Day and put little flags on the graves that, to me had strange marks. At that age I never gave it any thought but now as a genealogist I have learned what the symbols mean.

If you have no knowledge of the military, then seeing these symbols have always been a question to you. When you see a little flag beside the head stone, you probably just assumed that this person must of served in the military.

These symbols represent what your ancestor was; what they did for their and your country and was very proud to of served. There are millions of headstones in the United States that have some sort of engraving that can tell you what branch of the military they served and rank. These markings go back to the Civil War up to the present. There are some engravings that you will have no knowledge of what they mean.

I have put together a list of the symbols and their meanings that you may run across plus a list of military abbreviations that denote the unit of service, rank, medals, or other information that can tell you about your ancestor that served his or her country.

Flag - Often seen on a military markers, means liberty and loyalty
Stars & Stripes around an Eagle - Of ten seen on U.S. military markers, means Eternal vigilant and liberty.
Eagle - Indicates military serve, means courage, faith and generosity.
Cannon - It's found on the base of the stone, generally indicates artillery, military service.
Shield - Indicates military service, means strength and courage.
Rifle - Military service.
Sword - It's found on the base of the stone, indicates infantry, military service.
Crossed swords - Indicates a military person of high rank or a life lost in battle.
Horse - Indicates cavalry, military service.

Military abbreviations
BBG - Brevet BGEN - Brigadier General
BMG - Brevet Major General
CSGT - Commissary Sergeant
LGEN - Lieutenant General
GEN - General
LT - Lieutenant
LTC - Lieutenant Colonel
1 LT - First Lieutenant (2 LT and so on)
MGEN - Major General
MAJ - Major
NCO - Noncommissioned Officer
PVT - Private
OSGT - Ordinance Sergeant QMSGT - Quartermaster Sergeant
QM - Quartermaster
PVT 1 CL - Private First Class
SGT - Sergeant
SGM - Sergeant Major
WO - Warrant Officer

Here are the Military Units and Branches of Service

ART - Artillery
AC or USA - Army Corps; United States Army
BTRY - Battery
BRIG - Brigade
CT - Colored Troops or CTART for Colored Troops Artillery
CAV - Cavalry
CSA - Confederate States of America
CO or COM - Company
ENG or E&M - Engineers, Engineers/Miners
FA - Field Artillery
INF - Infantry
HA or HART - Heavy Artillery
LA or LART - Light Artillery
MC - Medical Corps
MAR or USMC - Marines, United States Marine corps
MIL - Militia
NAVY or USN - Navy, United States Navy
REG - Regiment
SS - Sharpshooters
TR - Troop
USAF - United States Air Force
VRC - Veteran Reserve
VOL or USV - Volunteers, United States Volunteers

Military Medals and Awards

ACM - Army Commendation Medal
AM - Air Medal
BS or BSM - Bronze Star or Bronze Star Medal
CSC - Conspicuous Service Cross
LOM - Legion of Merit
DFC - Distinguished Flying Cross
PH - Purple Heart
MOH - Medal of Honor
SS or SSM - Silver Star or Silver Star Medal

If you see an A, V, or OLC, these mean this person was awarded multiple awards.

A - Achievement
V - Valor
OLC - Oak Leaf Cluster

So the next time you visit a cemetery you will be able to distinguish one military engraving from the another and be proud of your country just like you ancestor was.