JOE’S NOTEBOOK: The Battlefield Cross

Thank you, Richard Boyd & Ed Raven —

The rifle is affixed with a bayonet and inverted, signifying that the Soldier went down fighting.

The boots signify the Soldier’s last march onto the battlefield. Dog tags are imprinted with the Soldier’s name and hung from the rifle so their identity will never be forgotten.

The helmet is placed atop the rifle representing what the Soldier stood for and signifying that their battle is now over.

The Battlefield Cross is a sacred symbol amongst military members. Since a funeral is typically not possible during wartime, these symbols serve as a rallying point where surviving members of a unit can mourn and remember their fallen comrades.