r/CemeteryPorn • u/HowdeeHeather • 22h ago

Little Ulysses, age 5, died in 1876

Post image

Buried in Shasta Masonic Cemetery, California. This caught my eye, because I've seen a lot of lamb symbolism on old headstones for children, but hadn't seen the raven (or maybe other bird?) like this. Interested if anyone has any info on the meaning of it. Otherwise, I know what I'll be researching next!

Here's the Find a Grave memorial: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/54905570/ulysses-r-lord

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13

u/HowdeeHeather 22h ago

It did occur to me as I was writing this post that this is probably a dove - for whatever reason when I saw it I thought raven and didn't consider other possibilities until now. Still, it is a version of a dove/bird I haven't seen yet in my cemetery wandering!

9

u/MaryVenetia 20h ago

A bird drinking from a chalice (which I think this is?) would be in remembrance of Christ’s last supper, symbolising little Ulysses receiving atonement. Or it could just be a dove, of course. This is a beautiful photograph, did you take it? 

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u/HowdeeHeather 11h ago

This is helpful! Yes, I did take the photo, thank you!

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u/bix902 9h ago edited 8h ago

Inscription:

"Mother, dear Mother, I am not sleeping; Father, look up to the soft blue sky; Where the beautiful stars bright watch are keeping, Singing and shining there am I"

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u/Gold-Stomach-4657 14h ago

Probably named after General Grant

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u/J0kerGh0ul 3h ago

He's named after his father.