ALWAYS WALK LIGHTLY UPON MEMORIAL GROUNDS
SHOWING RESPECT FOR THOSE HONORED HERE
ROADSIDE MEMORIALS
EARTHCACHE REQUIREMENTS
Each cacher must send his/her own answers BEFORE logging a find. ... "Geocachers must complete the tasks before they log the EarthCache as found." (4.3. EarthCache logging tasks)
Enjoy the journey (learning adventure) as well as the destination (smiley earned). Remember to take only pictures and leave only footprints. To get credit for this Earthcache, complete the following tasks:
A magnifying glass is a helpful tool to observe the grains and matrix.
1. MESSAGE …. Compare the grains making up each of the rocks.
2. MESSAGE …. LEFT - Describe all the weathering mechanisms that are changing this stone.
3. MESSAGE …. MIDDLE - Describe all the weathering mechanisms that are changing this stone.
4. MESSAGE …. RIGHT - Describe all the weathering mechanisms that are changing this stone.
5. MESSAGE …. Based on your observations, which rock is experiencing the greatest amount of weathering. Why do you think this is so.
6. LOG …. Post a picture of you or your signature item at or near the posted coordinates. This picture is your log signature. No spoiler pictures.
OPTIONAL - Please respect the time and effort involved in finding and creating this earthcache by adding A B C to your log.
A. Visit a memorial honoring our fallen heroes. Post a picture at the memorial. Label picture with name and location of memorial.
B. JOURNEY OF THE MIND ... Science explains what we observe. Relate (in your own words) something you found interesting in the reading. This adds to your learning adventure and your log.
C. JOURNEY OF THE HEART ... Art shares our personal experience of what we see. Share something special you found on site, and why it is special to you ... prose / story / poem / picture. This is a memorable addition to your log and will make other hearts smile.
Journeys of Heart and Mind ...
Stories to Touch the Heart and Puzzles to Challenge the Mind / Rainbow Tree Story
MONUMENTS
According to a resident, all three sandstone blocks were transported here and left unsculpted.
Embedded placques honor local military who served in the following wars:
LEFT - World War II / Korea / Viet Nam ... MIDDLE - World War II ... RIGHT - World War I
SANDSTONE
Sandstone is a sedimentary rock formed when sand grains are compressed into rock. They are inorganic in origin. While the grains themselves might be quite hard, the material between them (matrix) is softer and prone to faster erosion. Sandstone may be any color due to impurities within the minerals, but the most common colors are tan, brown, yellow, red, grey, pink, white, and black.
Sandstone with embedded pebbles is called conglomeritic sandstone. One of the monuments is made of this type of sandstone.
WEATHERING
Weathering is the breaking down of rock into smaller fragments. All rock weathers over time. Grains of sediment fall out. Cracks develop on the surface and deep inside. Weathering causes rocks to fracture, buckle, and crumble into soil and sediment. There are two types of weathering - mechanical and chemical.
Mechanical weathering breaks apart rocks without changing their chemical composition. Each fragment and particle weathered away by a mechanical process retains the same characteristics as the original rock. Mechanisms include the following ... TEMPERATURE (expansion-contraction leading to cracks), WIND (abrasion leading to separation of rock particles), WATER (abrasion leading to separation of rock particles), GRAVITY (abrasion leading to separation of rock particles).
Chemical weathering occurs when water, air, and other substances react with the minerals in rock. In chemical weathering, the composition of the rock changes Mechanisms include the following ... WATER (dissolves minerals in rocks, producing new compounds), OXYGEN (reacts with rocks changing their color), ACIDS (produced when water reacts with the atmosphere), LIGHTNING STRIKES (immense energy completely changes the rock).
Biological weathering occurs when living organisms contribute to mechanical weathering through the growth of roots or the burrowing of animals. Tree roots grow into cracks and joints, increasing the surface area for continual weathering by plants, wind, and water. Plants give off organic acids as part of their life and decay processes. These acids help to break down rocks chemically. Decaying remains of dead animals in soil may form organic acids which, when dissolved in water, cause chemical weathering.
RESOURCES
https://www.sandatlas.org/sandstone/
https://geogallery.si.edu/10026437/water-in-rocks
Cemetery Rarities ... https://coord.info/GC8KQDY
http://geologylearn.blogspot.com/2015/03/sandstone.html
https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/photos-old-guard-places-flags-at-arlington-national-cemetery-headstones-ahead-of-memorial-day/16266/
This series is dedicated to my dad who served in World War II.
GOD’S PROMISE …. A MOTHER’S LOVE
Told by my uncle (Joseph) ... And my father (Anthony)
Family was seated around the table on Thanksgiving Day when my uncle related why he and his brother returned home safely from the war.
Unbeknownst to my uncle aboard the carrier transporting him across the Atlantic, his ship was targeted by an underwater submarine. There were flashes in the distance that he later learned was the submarine being destroyed.
While stationed in Europe, his base was targeted by enemy fire. He awoke to the sound of the thundering of bombs exploding and saw the dark sky turn bright as the noonday sun. Men were scrambling for safety, but he remained seated with a peace that passeth all understanding. When the carnage was over, he looked down. There was a piece of shrapnel lodged just above his heart, but had not penetrated through his clothing.
Similarly, unbeknownst to my father aboard the carrier transporting him across the Pacific, his ship was targeted by an underwater submarine. There were flashes in the distance that he later learned was the submarine being destroyed.
My father loved to be amongst nature whenever and wherever. One day he was comfortably seated below a tree in the jungles of Australia. He laid his helmet beside him and was enjoying the peace of the moment. When it was time to leave, he reached for his helmet but was guided to look within before placing it upon his head. There sat a poisonous spider which would have surely been his demise. He dislodged the spider and returned to camp.
One day while on her knees communing with the Creator, my grandmother prayed for her sons to return home safely. She arose from prayer knowing God’s hand was upon her sons and they would return unharmed.
And so it was, many close encounters, but my uncle and my father each made it safely home. It was there the two brothers learned of God’s Promise and their Mother’s Love.