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MUSLIM (ISLAM) - The star and crescent is the best-known symbol used to represent Islam. The symbol is not Muslim in origin, it was a polytheistic icon adopted during the spread of Islam, and its use today is sometimes controversial in the Muslim world. The crescent and star are often said to be Islamic symbols, but historians say that they were the insignia of the Ottoman Empire in the early 19th century and gradually became associated with Islam in late 19th century.

HORSESHOE -  The horseshoe is probably one of the most well-known good luck symbols of the Western world. The horseshoe has a long history of being a protective symbol against any evil.  It was considered especially lucky if you found an old horseshoe.  Many believe the horseshoe which if found by chance has tenfold the power of a purchased horseshoe. The best find is an old horseshoe with the nails still in place. 

CONFEDERATE FLAG - The layout (often referred to as the "Southern Cross") is a Saint Andrew's cross, named after the X-shaped cross used to crucify St. Andrew.  It also known as a saltire.  Some believe the symbol represents freedom and independence from oppression and tyranny. The 13 stars represent the 11 states of the Confederacy as well as Kentucky and Missouri, two slave states that were claimed by the Confederacy but never actually seceded during the Civil War.

AMERICAN FLAG - The American flag, a symbol of courage and pride, is generally found marking the grave of a military veteran.  Today the flag consists of thirteen horizontal stripes, seven red alternating with 6 white. The stripes represent the original 13 colonies, the stars represent the 50 states of the Union. The colors of the flag are symbolic as well: Red symbolizes Hardiness and Valor, White symbolizes Purity and Innocence and Blue represents Vigilance, Perseverance and Justice. 

ANVIL AND HAMMER -  The anvil symbolizes the creation or forging of the universe...In Christian symbolism, the anvil is an attribute of St. Eligius, the patron saint of blacksmiths.

WHITE SHRINE OF JERUSALEM (STAR, CROSS & SHEPHERD'S CROOK) - Symbol of the White Shrine of Jerusalem.  Often seen with the phrase "In Hoc Signo Spes Mea" which translates to "In this Sign (The Cross) is my Hope".  Like the members of the Masonic Lodge and other bodies, members of the White Shrine must profess a belief in a Supreme Being.  However, the White Shrine goes one step further, requiring members to profess a belief in Jesus Christ as the Savior and Redeemer of the World.

STAR -  The Star represents the Light of the Holy Spirit overpowering death.  It is also interpreted as a guide to the Holy.  Like the four-pointed star, the five-pointed star symbol in Christianity is also known as the Star of Bethlehem and represents Jesus' birth and incarnation. Also known as the Epiphany Star, it is used especially for church decoration during the Advent and Christmas seasons. 

SOLDIER RIDING HORSE (IN BATTLE) - Traditionally, in statuary, when a figure is seen atop a horse in memorial, there are three meanings:

• Two or more feet raised - death in battle
• One leg raised fully off the ground - death from wounds suffered in battle
• Standing square or at rest - death of natural causes

This is typically the accepted formula for any equine statue/carving offered in memory of a deceased.

BABY SHOES (EMPTY) - Empty baby shoes symbolize the loss of a child, usually with one shoe overturned.  The shoes are a poignant image of a baby that conjures up memories of a lost child–those first faltering steps, the first steps to an adulthood that never comes.

IN HOC SIGINO VINCES (MASONIC KNIGHTS TEMPLAR) -  Masonic Knights Templar symbol showing a cross within a crown inside a Maltese cross, which has the Latin phrase, “in hoc signo vinces.” The phrase means “in this sign you shall conquer” and was used by Constantine as a military motto in the early 4th Century. The phrase was also used by the original Knights Templar military order that was founded during the Crusades. The Freemasons began using Templar rituals and symbols in the late 1700s.