Sounding IX

Examples of how humans memorialize and rank the dead

i.

A provisional survey of 852 people commemorated in New York Times obituaries in 2026 (through early October), excluding paid notices and republished obituaries, classified each person by their principal basis of public recognition. Film, television, theatre, dance and comedy accounted for 120; music for 114; and visual arts, design, architecture and photography for 87 — collectively, 321, or 37.7%. Philanthropy, humanitarian work and community service accounted for 10; religion and spiritual leadership for eight; and military service for six — collectively, 24, or 2.8%.

ii.

The Unknown Warrior, Westminster Abbey
Principal inscription (1921)

BENEATH THIS STONE RESTS THE BODY
OF A BRITISH WARRIOR
UNKNOWN BY NAME OR RANK
BROUGHT FROM FRANCE TO LIE AMONG
THE MOST ILLUSTRIOUS OF THE LAND
AND BURIED HERE ON ARMISTICE DAY
11 NOV: 1920, IN THE PRESENCE OF
HIS MAJESTY KING GEORGE V
HIS MINISTERS OF STATE
THE CHIEFS OF HIS FORCES
AND A VAST CONCOURSE OF THE NATION
THUS ARE COMMEMORATED THE MANY
MULTITUDES WHO DURING THE GREAT
WAR OF 1914-1918 GAVE THE MOST THAT
MAN CAN GIVE LIFE ITSELF
FOR GOD
FOR KING AND COUNTRY
FOR LOVED ONES HOME AND EMPIRE
FOR THE SACRED CAUSE OF JUSTICE AND
THE FREEDOM OF THE WORLD
THEY BURIED HIM AMONG THE KINGS BECAUSE HE
HAD DONE GOOD TOWARD GOD AND TOWARD
HIS HOUSE

The Unknown Warrior’s grave is the only gravestone in Westminster Abbey on which walking is forbidden.

iii.

Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Arlington National Cemetery
West-face inscription (1932)

HERE RESTS IN HONORED GLORY
AN AMERICAN SOLDIER
KNOWN BUT TO GOD

The Tomb has been guarded continuously, day and night, since 1937. Sentinels from the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment take 21 steps, face the Tomb for 21 seconds, turn and pause for another 21 seconds, then retrace their path; the number 21 recalls the 21-gun salute.

iv.

Memorial to Heroic Self-Sacrifice
Select inscriptions
Postman’s Park, London (memorial unveiled in 1900)

Alice Ayres, daughter of a bricklayer’s labourer, who by intrepid conduct saved 3 children from a burning house in Union Street, Borough, at the cost of her own young life. April 24, 1885.

Mary Rogers, stewardess of the Stella, self sacrificed by giving up her life belt and voluntarily going down in the sinking ship. March 30, 1899.

v.

The Annual Monitor for 1851
Obituary of the members of the Society of Friends in Great Britain and Ireland, for the year 1850
William Binns, Poole. An Elder.
Aged 81. Died 10 April 1850 (excerpt).

We have often had to observe, that many of our friends, who have lived to a good old age, and who have been loved and honoured in their respective stations, as upright pillars in the church, have left but few written memorials of their course for the instruction of others; whilst encompassed with infirmities, and looking for the help of the Lord’s Spirit to resist their manifold temptations and easily besetting sins, they have been enabled to pursue the even tenor of their way, seeking through divine grace to fulfil the day’s work, in the day time, and hoping to hear at last the call of mercy into one of the many mansions prepared by Him, who has loved them and died for them.

We love to dwell upon this class of our departed friends, and without undervaluing those whose gifts have been more prominent, or whom circumstances have rendered more conspicuous in our pages, we sincerely desire that these more hidden, but not less valuable parts of the spiritual building, may ever be honoured amongst us. Such an one was our late friend, William Binns. [...]

He was greatly concerned for the true welfare of our religious Society, and in the district in which he resided was eminently useful; caring for the flock over which the good Shepherd had made him an overseer.

Sterling integrity and uprightness marked his character; his judgment was clear and sound, and was frequently given in comprehensive and pertinent language, free from all superfluous expression.