Descendants of America’s last slaves celebrated Juneteenth by sprucing up their ancestors’ graves at a historic black cemetery in Carrollton, Texas. On June 19, 1865, slaves in Texas were the last slaves to be freed at the end of America’s Civil War. Although President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation freeing American slaves on September 22, 1862, many states, including Texas, refused to recognize the end of slavery until forced to do so. Slavery remained prevalent in East Texas until  June 19, 1865, when Union Army General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston with 2,000 federal troops to enforce emancipation. First celebrated in Texas in 1980, Juneteenth has become a nationwide celebration of that historic event.

Founded in the late 1800s, the historic Carrollton, Texas cemetery is the final resting place of Carrollton’s earliest black settlers. The stones and wooden crosses that mark many of those earliest gravesites are old and faded but still visible, although many markers were washed away in the 1960 flooding of the Trinity River. The final burial at the cemetery took place in 1960, but the families and friends of those buried in Carrollton continue to visit the cemetery, care for its graves and remember the sacrifices of their ancestors.

Memorial Flag Pillow

The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier may be America’s most well-known grave site. Located near the center of Arlington National Cemetery, the Tomb of the Unknowns is a monolithic marble sarcophagus that holds the remains of unknown American soldiers who fought and died during World War I, World War II, the Korean Conflict and the Vietnam War. The marble tomb is carved with three Greek figures representing Peace, Victory and Valor and laurel wreaths representing the six major battles of World War I and inscribed with the words: “Here rests in honored glory an American soldier known but to God.”

Upon internment, each unknown soldier was awarded a Medal of Honor. The medals and the flags that draped the soldiers’ coffins are displayed in the Memorial Amphitheater located directly behind the tomb. Specially trained members of the 3rd U.S. Infantry, known as The Old Guard, stand watch over the tomb 24 hours a day, 365 days of the year to honor the brave soldiers who died defending our country.

The marble slab from which the Tomb  of the Unknowns was carved was mined from the Yule Marble Quarry near the tiny town of Marble, Colorado in 1931. Marble for the Lincoln memorial also came from the same quarry which was owned by the Vermont Marble Company. Following both World War I and World War II, many U.S. communities erected local veterans memorials to unknown soldiers to honor their war dead.

The celebration of a birthday or wedding anniversary for a loved one who has recently passed away is always a difficult time for the loved ones left behind. By marking this special occasion with a headstone decoration in the shape of an angel, you can place a special memento close to your loved one.

These wonderful aluminum headstone decorations are weather-proof and simply hook over the top of the headstone. One of our favorite products is the angel. The word angel is derived from the Greek word “angelos” which means “messenger”.

Some believe that angels carry messages from this world to the next for us. Whatever you believe, this beautiful decoration “sends your message of love” out to all who see it gracing the headstone of your dearly departed.

Each angel decoration is crafted using the process of sand casting; allowing for each piece to be unique. These unique decorations are available in our online store and will make a precious remembrance next time you visit the cemetery.

So let our little angel “messenger” watch over your loved one’s last resting place and be a testimony of your love and special day celebration.

Solar Cross

Softly glowing lighted sentinels that light the way to your loved one’s grave, illuminated grave markers provide gentle comfort to families. An increasingly popular way to pay tribute to our loved ones, solar light grave markers come in a variety of comforting choices including the lovely ethereal Solar Light Angel, the bright white Solar Light Cross, the Inspirational Solar Bible, the beautifully colored Memorial Flag, the popular Solar Light Yellow Ribbon and the very personal Solar Light Photograph Display that allows families to display a lighted picture of their loved one on top of the headstone. All illuminated grave markers are powered by discrete energy-efficient solar light panels that in no way distract from their beauty.

Light has been an important element of funeral rites and burial customs for centuries. Primitive tribes feared death and believed it was brought about by evil spirits. In many cultures, bodies were burned in funeral pyres to excise evil spirits from the dead and protect the living.

In other cultures, fire was believed to light the way to the next world. The spirits of their dead were believed to ascend to the next world on the smoke of funeral pyres. A vestige of those ancient customs can be found in the candle lighting practiced by many modern religions and cultures to honor the dead.