i recently went to ta geneaology workshop
called "Going Out In Style" byt the author
of a book by the same name, who reserached
grave statuary, and memorials of all types.

One way to save designs from tomb stones
is by doing rubbings....this can capture the
engravings by putting a piece of paper over the
head stone and rubbing with pencil, charcoal or crayon
to "capture" the design.

I have visited and photographed graves of several of
my ancestors and also sent photographs to others' of
their ancestors' graves when requested to do so.

In the cemetary where my parents are, there is a plane
propellor commemorating a fellow who died in a plane
crash and there is also a copy of a letter the fellow
received from another famous flyer: Charles Lindburg

often a grave marker can tell a story or reveal historical
information. Some have pictures fo the deceased.