The Grapevine: Thoughts, History on Memorial Day
By Connect-Bridgeport Staff on May 06, 2026
As we say goodbye to spring, we welcome summer. Memorial Day always means the beginning of summer. It means graduation for both high school and college. It means vacation and it means summer jobs.
But Memorial Day means more than that. In 1868 it was established to recognize those who gave their lives to our country. Communities were to come together to decorate the graves of these heroes. The tradition continues with the placing of flags on these graves.
But sometimes if you were at the graveyard and noticed a coin on the headstone of these Veterans, this is what it meant. The placing of these coins on headstones dates to the Roman Empire. If there is a penny it means the grave was visited. If a nickel, they served with the Veterans at boot camp. If a dime it means they served together at some point, and if a quarter the veterans were with them when they died.
This year when visiting the cemetery take a pocket full of change and place a penny on all veterans graves you visit. This will communicate a message of respect to the family of the deceased.
Continue to fly the flags and remember the red poppy is a symbol of Memorial Day.
Once we celebrate Memorial Day then we can get on with planning vacation. I still encourage you to visit different sites in West Virginia. This is a beautiful state and just remember you live in “Almost Heaven, West Virginia.”
Now is the time to get your plants in the dirt. My basil plant is doing great.
Stay cool, stay safe, and until next week, “Now You Have Heard It Through The Grapevine.”
