"Bury me out back"

Shopping for a grave monument is something that I never gave a thought. Dad always said, "Just dig a hole and bury me out back with the critters". He would add that he wanted to be together with my Mother, who wouldn't want to be "buried out back", since she isn't an animal lover.
In order to make this work, we purchased cemetery plots up the road from the house where there are three lovely pine trees. Dad planted over 100 pine trees on our little farm. He loved to cut wood and having his resting place near the trees seems fitting.

We received the veteran's bronze marker, which is very beautiful, but I wanted something special for my Dad. A local monument maker went with an idea and the draft is pictured above.

Since Dad was a ski jumper and served in the 10th Mountain Division during W.W.II, it seemed appropriate.I hope that Dad will like this when it is done.