The stillness of a military cemetery is often profound, a landscape of uniform white markers standing in silent formation across rolling green hills. To the casual observer, it is a place of somber beauty and historical weight. However, for those who look closely at the tops of these granite and marble headstones, a subtle, shimmering detail often emerges. A small glint of copper or silver—a stray penny, a nickel, a dime, or a quarter—rests gently on the edge of the stone. To the uninitiated, this might look like a forgotten pittance or a random act of littering. In reality, these coins are part of a deeply sacred, non-verbal dialogue. They are “challenge coins” for the departed, carrying a weight of meaning that far exceeds their monetary value. Continue reading…
