What does BSM mean on a military headstone?
What does BSM mean on a military headstone?
BSM is Bronze Star Medal. W/V means “with valour”, ie earned in action. OLC is Oak Leaves Cross, meaning he won it twice. PH is Purple Heart, meaning that he was wounded.
What do you write on a military headstone?
Government-furnished headstones and markers must be inscribed with the legal name of the deceased, branch of service and the year of birth and death, in this order. Memorial markers must also include “ In Memory Of ” at the top.
What does Gar mean on a grave?
the Grand Army of the Republic
Grave Markers with F.C.L. The acronym stands for “Fraternity, Charity & Loyalty” – the three guiding principles of the Grand Army of the Republic. Also known simply as GAR, the Grand Army of the Republic is a fraternal organization of veterans of the Union Army who served in the American Civil War.
What does SS mean on a military headstone?
In later years various honors were shown on tombstones as follows.
| ACM | Army Commendation Medal |
|---|---|
| LOM | Legion of Merit |
| OLC — preceded by a number indicates how many achieved | Oak Leaf Cluster. |
| PH | Purple Heart |
| SS or SSM | Silver Star Medal may also mean Sharp Shooter |
What does CSA mean on a tombstone?
CROSS, SOUTHERN CROSS OF HONOR (CONFEDERATE STATES OF AMERICA) – Found on the gravestones of Confederate Soldiers and Veterans. The Southern Cross of Honor was a postbellum honor presented by the United Daughters of the Confederacy to members of the United Confederate Veterans.
What does the second E stand for in veteran?
Educate
E — Educate. Military veterans, from yesterday and today, are among our best educators and community volunteers. For many vets, the service to their country doesn’t end when they leave the service. It is a life-long commitment to not only share their experiences, but to make America stronger.
What does Afcm mean on a military headstone?
What does AFCM stand for?
| Rank Abbr. | Meaning |
|---|---|
| AFCM | Air Force Commendation Medal |
| AFCM | Master Chief Aircraft Maintenanceman (Naval rating) |
What does FLT mean on a gravestone?
Some initials found on gravestones: FLT stands for Friendship, Love, Truth, three degrees associated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. The Odd Fellows, first organized in the US in 1819, is a popular fraternal/benefit organization. The emblem of the Odd Fellows is usually shown as three links of a chain.
What does SP mean on a gravestone?
It’s short for “Świętej Pamięci.” The literal translation would be “of Holy/Saint Memory.” But it’s the equivalent of “late John Smith” with a catholic kick. You can think of it as RIP too.
What do the abbreviations on military graves mean?
Many military graves are inscribed with abbreviations that denote the unit of service, ranks, medals, or other information on the military veteran. Others may also be marked with bronze or stone plaques provided by the U.S. Veterans Administration.
What is the abbreviation for military tombstone?
The following is a partial list of military tombstone abbreviations used in American cemeteries. CO. G = Company G CO. K = Company K
How many symbols are on US military tombstones?
The 65 Symbols on US Military Tombstones. While American military cemeteries may look uniform with their rows of cross-adorned tombs, look closer and you’ll find Wiccan Pentacles, Atheist Atoms, and the Hammer of Thor.
What do the emblems on a headstone mean?
These emblems tell a narrative beyond the name and rank on the headstone. People of all faiths, or lack thereof, have served in the armed forces, given their lives, and come to be remembered in these places, and that story is there to read in the stone.
