HEADSTONE ABBREVIATIONS

AAONMS   Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine (Masonic) AASR         Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite (Masonic) ABA            American Benefit Association AF&AM       Ancient Free and Accepted Masons ALOH         American Legion of Honor AMD          Allied Masonic Degree AMORC        Ancient and Mystical Order Rosae Crucis (Rosicrucians) AMOS         Ancient Mystic Order of Samaritans (see IOOF) AOF          Ancient Order Of Foresters AOH          Ancient Order of Hibernians AOKMC        Ancient Order Of Knights of Mystic Chain AOUW         Ancient Order Of United Workmen APA          American Protective Association AUM          Ancient Order of Mysteries (Masonic) AUSA         Association of the United States Army AUV          Association of Union Veterans B of RTM     Brotherhood of Rail Road Track Men BARE         Benefit Association Of Railway Employees BAY          Brotherhood of American Yeomen BK of M      Black Knights of Molders BKA          Benevolent Knights Association BLE          Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers BLF&E        Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen & Engineers BPOE         Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks BPOEW        Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks of the World BRT          Brotherhood of Railway Trainmen  CAR          Children of the American Revolution CBKA         Commandery Benevolent Knights Association CBL          Catholic Benevolent Legion CCTAS        Crusaders-Catholic Total Abstinence Society CD of A      Catholic Daughters of America CK of A      Catholic Knights of America CMBA         Catholic Mutual Benefit Association COOF         Catholic Order of Foresters CSA          Confederate States Army CTAS         Catholic Total Abstinence Society DAR          Daughters of the American Revolution D.O.A./DA    Daughters of America DAC          Daughters of the American Colonists DAV          Disabled American Veterans DOKK         Dramatic Order Knights of Khorassan (Knights of Pythias) DoL          Daughters of Liberty DOLLUS       Dames of the Loyal Legion of the United States DON          Daughters of the Nile (Masonic) DUV          Daughters of Union Veterans of the Civil War EAA          Experimental Aircraft Association EAU          Equitable Aid Union EBA          Emerald Beneficial Association ECVE         Clampus Vitus FAA          Free and Accepted Americans FAM          Free and Accepted Masons FCB          Knights of Pythias FLT          Independent Order of Odd Fellows FMF          Fleet Marine Force FOAST        Fraternal Order of Alaska State Troopers FOE          Fraternal Order of Eagles FOF          Fraternal Order of Firefighters FOP          Fraternal Order of Police GAR          Grand Army of the Republic GALSTPTR     German American Legion of St. Peter GLAUM        Grand Lodge Ancient Order of Mysteries-Masonic Order GLDS         Grand Lodge Daughters of Scotia GUOOF        Grand United Order of Odd Fellows HZ           Haro Zaro IBBH         International Brotherhood of Blacksmiths and Helpers ICBU         Irish Catholic Benevolent Union IHSV         Red Cross of Constantine (Masonic) IOA          International Order of Alhambra IODE         Independent Order, Daughters of the Empire IOF          Independent Order of Foresters IOGT         International Order of Good Templars IOH          Improved Order of Heptasophs IOHH         International Order of Hoo-Hoo IOI          Independent Order of Immaculates IOJD         Independent Order of Job's Daughters IOKP         Independent Order of Knights of Pythias IOOF         Independent Order of Odd Fellows IOOF-PM      Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Past Master IOR          Independent Order of Rechabites IORG         International Order of Rainbow Girls (Masonic) IORM         Improved Order of Redmen (Sons of Liberty) IOStL        Independent Order of St. Luke IOV          International Order of Vikings ISDA         Italian Sons and Daughters of America ISH          Independent Sons of Honor IUOM         Independent United Order of Mechanics IWW          Industrial Workers of the World JAOUW        Junior Order-Ancient Order of United Workmen J.O.A.M.     Junior Order of American Mechanics J.O.U.A.M.   Junior Order of United American Mechanics K.of C.      Knights of Columbus K.of P.      Knights of Pythias K of FM      Knights of Father Matthew K of H       Knights of Honor K of L       Knights of Loyola K.M.         Knights of Malta (Masonic) K.T.         Knights Templar K of SJ      Knights of St. John K of STP     Knights of St. Patrick K of STW     Knights of St. Wenceslas K of T       Knights of Tabor K of TM      Knights of the Macabees K.of C.      Knights of Columbus K.of P.      Knights of Pythias KC           Knights of Columbus KFM          Knights of Father Matthew KG           Knights of St. George KGC          Knights of the Golden Chain KGC          Knights of the Golden Circle KGE          Knights of the Golden Eagle KGL          Knight Grand Legion KHC          Knights of Holy Cross KKK          Knights of Klu-Klux Klan KLH          Knights and Ladies of Honor KM           Knights Militant (See KKK) KM           Knights of Malta (Masonic) KMC          Knights of the Mystic Chain KOL          Knights of Labor KOTM         Knights of the Macabees KP           Knights of Pythias KPC          Knights of Peter Claver KSC          Knights of St. Columbkille KSF          Knights of Sherwood Forest KSL          Knights of St. Lawrence KSTG         Knights of St. George KSTI         Knights of St. Ignatius KSTJ         Knights of St. Joseph KSTM         Knights of St. Martin KSTP         Knights of St. Paul KSTP         Knights of St. Peter KSTT         Knights of St. Thomas KT           Knights of Tabor KT           Knights Templars (Masonic) LAOH         Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians LDG          Independent Order of Foresters LGAR         Ladies of the Grand Army of the Republic LK of A      Loyal Knights of America LOL          Loyal Order Orange Lodge (The Orange Order){Orange Men} L.O.M        Loyal Order of Moose LOOM         Loyal Order of the MOOSE LOVUS        Legion of Valor of the United States M.W.A.       Modern Woodmen of America MAW          Marine Air Wing M.W.A.       Modern Woodmen of America MBS          Mutual Benefit Society MCL          Marine Corps League MOLLUS       Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States MOOSE        Loyal Order of the Moose MOPH         Military Order of the Purple Heart MOVPER       Mystic Order of Veiled Prophets of the Mystic Realm (Grotto) MRA          Royal Arcanum N.O.W.       Neighbors of Woodcraft NCOA         Non-Commissioned Officers Association (Military Society) NEOP         New England Order of Protection NL           Navy League NOK          New Order Knights (see KKK) NSDAR        National Society Daughters of American Revolution NSDAR        National Society Daughters of the American Revolution NSSUP        National Society Sons of Utah Pioneers NU           National Union O of A       Order of Amaranth (Masonic) O of UF      Order of United Friends OCF          Order of Chosen Friends ODHS         Des Schwestern Verbandes (Sisters of the Federation OES          Order of the Eastern Star OGC          Order of the Golden Cross OSC          Order of Scottish Clans (St. Andrew's Societies) OUAM         Order of United American Mechanics PF of A      Patriotic Friends of America PH           The Order of Patrons of Husbandry (The Grange) PM           Patriarchs Militant (Independent Order of Odd Fellows) RA           Royal Academy RA           Royal Arcanum R.A.M.       Royal Arch Masons *R.N.A.      Royal Neighbors of America RIP          Requiescat in pace, Latin for REST IN PEACE RK           Roman Knights RMOKHSJ      The Religious and Military Order of Knights of the Holy              Sepulchre of jerusalem RO-AUM       Rosicrucian Order (Masonic) ROJ          Royal Order of Jesters (Masonic) RSGF         Royal Society of Good Fellows RSM          Royal and Select Masons RSTV         Rite of St. Vaclara RSTV         Rite of ST. Vita RTT          Royal Templars of Temperance S.A.L.       Sons of the American Legion SAR          Sisters of the American Revolution SAR          Sons of the American Revolution S.A.W.V.     Spanish American War Veteran SBCL         Saint Bonifazius Catholic Union SBL          Society B. Lafayette SCV          Sons of the Confederate Veterans S.C.V.C.W.   Sons of the Conferderate Veterans of the Civil War S of E       Sons of England S.F.W.C.     Supreme Forest Woodmen Circle SMAA         Scandinavian Mutual Aid Association SNA-AUM      Shrine of North America (Masonic) S.O.C.V.     Sons of the Confederate Veterans SR           Scottish Rite (Masonic) ST           Sons of Temperance ST.G S o NY  St. George's Society of New York SUVCW  Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War S of St.G    Sons of St. George S.S.M.A.     Soldiers & Sailors Memorial  Association S.U.V.C.W.   Sons of the United Veteran's of the Civil War SV           Sons of Veterans SV           Sons of Veterans of the United States of America TCL          Tall Ceders of Lebanon (Masonic) TH           Temple of Honor and Temperance-Independent Order of Odd               Fellows TH           Temple of Honor-Independent Order of Odd Fellows TPLF         Temple of Honor and Temperance, IOOF TROA         The Retired Officer's Association U.S.A.       United States Army U.S.A.F.     United States Air Force U.S.M.C.     United States Marine Corp U.S.N.       United States Navy UAOD         United Ancient Order of Druids UCV          United Confederate Veterans UDC          United Daughters of the Confederacy UFL          Union Fraternal League UFM          United Friends of Michigan UOPF         United Order of Pilgrim Fathers UR           The Uniform Ranks designation found on many VFW          Veteran's of Foreign Wars W.C.         Woodmen Circle W.O.W.       Woodmen of the World W.O.W.       Women of Woodcraft WKSC         White Knights of the Southern Cross (See KKK) YMCA         Young Men's Christian Association YWCA         Young Women's Christian Association

AOH-Ancient Order of Hibernians BPQE- Benevolent & Protective Order of Elks CAR- Children of the American Revolution DAR.- Daughters of the American Revolution FOE- Fraternal Order of Eagles FOP- Fraternal Order of Police F&AM- Free and Accepted Masons GAR-- Grand Army of the Republic I.O.R.M.- Improved Order of Red Men IOF- Independent Order of Foresters IOOF- Independent Order of Odd Fellows IOJD- International Order of Job's Daughters JOAM- Junior Order of American Mechanics JOUAM- Junior Order of United American Mechanics K of C- Knights of Columbus K of P- Knights of Pythias KT- Knights Templar LOM- Loyal Order of Moose MWA- Modern Woodmen of America NOW-Neighbors of Woodcraft RA- Royal Academy PA- Royal Arcanum RAM- Royal Arch Masons RNA-Royal Neighbors of America-many times the RNA will only have a small aluminum state besides the headstone SAR-Sons of the American Revolution SFWC-Supreme Forest Woodsman Circle USA-United States Army USAF-United States Air Force USMC-United States Marine Corp USN-United State Navy YMCA-Young Men's Christian Association YWCA-Young Women's Christian Association WC-Woodmen Circle WOW-Woodmen of the World WOW-Women of Woodcraft Woodmen of the World Have you ever been to a cemetery and seen a tombstone shaped like a tree trunk or a tree stump?  If you have, what you saw was a Woodmen of the World tombstone.  This fraternal organization began in 1883 as the Modern Woodmen of America and became a benefit society. Around the turn of the century, a new group evolved, called the Woodmen of the World. The benefit society became involved with selling insurance, and members received a death benefit and the opportunity to have one of the special stones purchased and set on their graves. The distinctive markers came in many shapes, sizes and designs.  If one of your ancestors was a member of Woodmen of the World, you might want to contact the company (which is still in existence) at http://www.woodmen.com/ to determine if they have any records on file relating to your ancestor. The Symbols Religious: Angels- Angels mean spirituality and they guard the tomb. Bible- A single Holy Bible is often found on Christian stones. Holy Books (2)- on Mormon headstones indicates the Bible and the Book of Mormon. Holy Books (3)- on Mormon Headstones, these indicate The Scripture of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints- the Bible, Book of Mormon, and Doctrine & Covenants. Chalice - Usually used to represent the Sacraments. Crescent - the deceased was probably a Muslim. Crown - The soul's achievement and the Glory of life after death. Cross - the Cross is an emblem of faith. There are many different types of crosses and each may mean something different. For a good explanation of the various types of crosses, see http://www.alsirat.com/symbols/cross.html a part of The City of the Silent. Heart (Sacred) - Usually found in Catholic cemeteries, this heart refers to the suffering of Christ for our sins. Menorah - An emblem of Judaism Star of David or Mogen David - Recognized as the international symbol of Judaism. Mortality: Arrow- Mortality Broken Column- This image represents the decay. It usually represents the loss of the Family head. Candle being Snuffed- Loss of life. Coffin- mortality. Figure with Dart- Mortality Grim Reaper- Death personified Hourglass- Time has run out Scythe- An instrument of the harvest, death cuts us down Skull and or Skull/Crossed Bones- Death Spade or Crossed Spade and Shovel- Death Trade and Occupation: (emblems that might indicate a person's occupation in life) Barber-Bowl (for bleeding) & Razor Butcher- an axe, steel knife and cleaver Farmer- Coulter (type of hoe), flail (threshing implement), swingletree (rod for beating flax), stalk of corn Gardener- Rake & Spade Mason- Wedge & Level Mariner- Anchor, Sextant & Cross Staff Merchant- Scales, some type of sign Minister- Bible Shoemaker- Leather cutter's Knife, Nippers, Sole cutter & Awl Smith- Crown, Hammer & Anvil Teacher- Open Book Weaver- Loom, Shuttle & Stretchers Wright- (a worker skilled in the manufacture especially of wooden objects --usually used in combination, shipwright, wheelwright,  Compasses Resurrection, Eternal Life, Immortality Angel, Flying or Trumpeting- Rebirth; Resurrection Bird or Bird Flying- Eternal life, Resurrection Cross- The Cross means resurrection to many Christians Dove, Flying- Resurrection Flame, Light, Lamp or Torch- Immortality of the Spirit, Resurrection Garland or Wreath- Symbol of saintliness and glory, Victory in death Horns- The Resurrection Ivy- Immortality Rooster- Awakening; Resurrection Star- Death could not overpower the Light of the Spirit which still shines in the darkness Sun- A symbol of light and warmth, renewed life and life everlasting Trumpeters- Harbingers of the Resurrection Urn- Immortality (The storing of the vital organs was of extreme importance to the ancient Egyptians who believed that life would be restored through the vital organs placed in the urn) Animals Birds- Eternal life or resurrection Butterfly- Short-life Dog- Implies a good master worthy of love Dove- Seen in both Christian and Jewish cemeteries, the dove means innocence and/or peace Lamb- Usually marks the grave of a child and means Innocence Lion- The Lion's eternal watch guards the tomb and stands for Courage Rooster - Awakening; Resurrection. Plants Fruits- Eternal plenty as in the fruit of life Full-Blown Rose-The deceased died in the prime of life Ivy- Ivy stands for friendship and also immortality Laurel- A symbol of worldly accomplishment and heroism Lily- The virgins' flower and also the symbol of innocence and purity Morning Glory- Signifies the beginning of Life Oak, Oak Leaves and Acorn- Oak leaves on tombs can stand for power, authority or victory. Often seen on Military tombs Palm Branch- Signifies Victory and Rejoicing Poppy- Eternal Sleep Roses- Roses signify completion and the brevity of earthly existence Rosemary- Rosemary is for remembrance Thistles can also stand for remembrance Thistle- Deceased was of Scottish descent Tree or Trees • A Tree stands for life. • A Tree Sprouting stands for life everlasting. • Tree Trunk stands for the brevity of life. • Stones shaped liked Tree Stumps usually signify that the deceased was a member of The Woodmen of the World Weeping Willow Tree- Perpetual Mourning; Grief Wheat Strands or Sheaves- The divine harvest Miscellaneous Broken Ring- The family circle has been severed Cherub- Cherubs are angelic and signify innocence Crossed Swords- Military person of high rank Hands: • Hands in cemeteries are usually in one of the following four positions; clasping, praying, pointing, and blessing * Hand, Pointing Up - Pathway to heaven • Hands, Clasped - Farewells or the bond of marriage • Hands, Praying - Asking God for Eternal life • Hands, Blessing - Blessing of those left behind Harp- Praise to the God Heart- Love. Stylized hearts stand for the affection of the living for the dead. Two joined hearts on a stone mark a marriage Rod or Staff- Comfort for the bereaved Stars and Stripes Around Eagle- Eternal vigilance and liberty. Often seen on military markers Urn with Flame- Undying remembrance