Gardens of Stone --- A Cemetery Blog by Alexandra Kathryn Mosca

The Johnston family mausoleum in Calvary Cemetery is not to be missed. In fact, one would be hard pressed to do so as the structure is massive and prominently situated. Fans of The Godfather may recall seeing it in the funeral scene of Don Corleone. In the 19th Century, the Johnston brothers --John, Charles & Robert – were the proprietors of the J & C Johnston Dry Goods Store on Broadway in Manhattan. An 1874 article in the New York Times, entitled ‘The Christmas Holidays: At The Dry-Goods Store’ encapsulated the various offerings from NYC merchants. The entry for the J & C Johnston Co. noted that it had “…one of the most extensive silk departments in the city.”

At the age of 22, George Ehret left Germany to join his father --a brewer --in New York. Within ten years --in 1866-- he established the Hell Gate Brewery, named for its location near Hell's Gate on the East River in Manhattan. For a good part of the late 19th Century, Hell Gate Brewery was the country’s largest brewer, rivaling Anheuser-Busch Pabst and Schlitz. Ehret chronicled his success in a book he published in 1891: Twenty-Five Years of Brewing with an Illustrated History of American Beer. In addition to the brewery, Ehret amassed substantial real estate holdings in New York City, many of which were rental properties. As both a boss and landlord, Ehret was benevolent. Perhaps his kindness and philanthropic ways were part of the reason that more than 2000 people--–including the German Ambassador--attended his funeral mass at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in January of 1927, when he died at the age of 92. Ehret was entombed in the family mausoleum in Woodlawn Cemetery, joining...

Arlington National Cemetery's Tomb of the Unknowns-- commonly called The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier --is perched high atop a hill, affording a spectacular view of Washington, DC. Since the 1921 burial of an unidentified WWI veteran, three more veterans --from WWI, Korea, and Vietnam--have been entombed. The sarcophagus, in the shape of a tomb, is constructed of white marble and sports columns in the corners. The east panel, which faces Washington, DC, features three Greek figures representing Peace, Victory, and Valor. The Tomb of the Unknowns is guarded around the clock every day of the year by Tomb Guard sentinels, who are all volunteers from the elite 3rd U.S. Infantry. From the beginning of October to the end of March, the guard is changed each hour in an impressive ceremony. In the warmer weather -April through September—that change occurs every half-hour.

Supreme Court Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist --who spent 33 years in the court- died on September 3, 2005 at 80. His body lay in state in the Great Hall of the Supreme Court until his funeral on September 7, 2005; his casket resting on the same catafalque as did the casket of Abraham Lincoln. Rehnquist’s religious service took place at the Cathedral of St. Matthew in Washington, DC, where, in 1963, John F. Kennedy’s funeral Mass was held. The Catholic cathedral was chosen for its size. However, Minister Rev. George W. Evans Jr., pastor of Rehnquist’s parish, the Lutheran Church of the Redeemer, conducted the service. At the start of the religious service, Rehnquist’s casket was carried into the church by some of his former law clerks, preceded by the eight associate justices. During a service over two hours long, Rehnquist was eulogized by many, including President George W. Bush and close friend, Justice Sandra Day O’Connor. At its conclusion, another group of law clerks carried J...