ammo box urn

[sncup]

We buried a veteran yesterday. He was cremated and the Urn was buried in a cemetery near where he lived. As we rode back, one of the guys of the honor squad said he had bought a 50 caliber ammo box to be used for his Urn. I asked if he was going to get it chromed or specially painted. He thought about it and said he would look into it.

This started me thinking about my own Urn / box. An ammo can really does represent what I enjoy doing in life, so why not use one for a final place. I looked into how big it needed to be. Apparently the rule of thumb is One cubic inch of space per pound of live weight. The 50 cal box is WAY oversized, but if you like the 50 BMG why not? I’ll probably use one of the boxes I have that held 500 rounds of 45 acp. I’m still thinking on what I might inscribe on the box that will sit in the front of the church for public viewing. Perhaps paint it Navy blue.

My understanding is they only do the cremation holes 3ft deep. I wonder what tool they will use to bury an ammo box 3ft deep?

 

[Pistolero]

Very good idea!

 

[Ale-8(1)]

A very good friend of mine specified that for his "final residence". His ashes were placed in an ammo can, and his widow and children carried it back into the woods on their property and buried it. No one else knows its location.

Seems like a good idea. Even if you didn't own adequate property to hide it, there would have to be someplace of particular significance to all concerned to serve the purpose. Someplace unlikely to get excavated in the future, of course.

 

[pisgah]

My dad was a 21-year-old platoon sergeant in the 45th Infantry Division in northern France/southern Germany in the early months of 1945. He got his "million dollar wound" when a 90mm round fired from a captured American tank destroyer nearly removed his left arm at the elbow -- a wound which, after extensive surgeries, he eventually recovered from with amazingly little permanent disability. He went on to live a long and productive life well-loved by all who knew him.

Somewhere along the way a friend gave him a 90mm casing which he held on to through the years as a souvenir. When he died a couple of years ago his request was to be cremated. The brass casing was engraved with his name, birth/death dates, and unit designation, a walnut cap was designed and custom made for it, and it served as his burial urn. We still refer to it as "the one that had his name on it."

 

[Bob Wright]

Nothing wrong with cremation, I reckon, but just doesn't appeal to me.

I don't want anybody looking down on my ashes and sayin', "Don't he look natural."


Bob Wright

 

[eveled]

A friend of mine wanted his ashes spread at the ocean. When he died his wife flushed his ashes down the toilet, saying he'll get to the ocean eventually.

A friend of my dad's wife passed, she wanted to be spread in her rose garden. He followed her wishes, then sold the house, guess where the new septic system went.

 

[turd]

Nothing wrong with cremation, I reckon, but just doesn't appeal to me.

I don't want anybody looking down on my ashes and sayin', "Don't he look natural."


Bob Wright

Lots of Christians don't believe cremation is appropriate, thinking God will have to try to find your ashes. Seems to me that Judgement Day involves your soul, not your earthly body......

 

[Colonialgirl]

My MIL wanted her ashes to be spread in the ocean in Hawaii or at Myrtle Beach; We met the daughter and BIL at the pier in Myrtle Beach and at low tide placed the ashes in a hole dug in the sand at the base of a piling. We figured that the ocean would wash them away.
That said, My brother told me the experience his dive club had with the ashes of a member that wanted them spread over ship wreck by Avalon Harbor in Catalina. He said they got outside the LA Harbor breakwater, it was rough, cold and wet in the channel; Somebody said , "I think This is CLOSE enough, He can SWIM the rest of the way", and over the side went the ashes.

 

[sncup]

My wife is saying she wants her Urn to be buried in a vault like a casket would.

We talked about how to have our survivors contract for a standard concrete vault. Thinking our Urns – even my ammo can Urn will take up less space than a coffin, I looked into the longevity of a plastic ice chest. It seems the plastic chest should last for hundreds, perhaps thousands of years. Land fills have problems with plastic.

Consider the lifespan of these popular plastic products:
Plastic Water Bottle - 450 years
Disposable Diapers - 500 years
Plastic 6-Pack Collar - 450 Years
Extruded Polystyrene Foam - over 5,000 years

Thus the executor of our estate could simply put both of our Urns into the ice chest. Seal the chest & deliver it to the funeral house for burial. Simple

 

[exavid]

When my father died he was cremated as he wanted. When I went to pick up the 'cremains' I was told I couldn't take them without a sturdy, sealed container. After looking at the cheapest they had to offer I went home and cleaned up my dad's old .30cal ammo can that he used to carry tools in his car for years. The funeral home wasn't pleased but complied and I took him home. A couple of years ago my mother passed and we put her remains in the can too. Later on we buried them both in San Francisco Bay, where they met on a ferry back in 1940. Seemed proper to me for a man with 30 years in the Army Air Corps and the USAF. If I'd have put his remains in a $300 urn he'd probably have haunted me for years.

 

[toysoldier]

When I went to pick up the 'cremains' I was told I couldn't take them without a sturdy, sealed container.... If I'd have put his remains in a $300 urn he'd probably have haunted me for years.

Funeral home ripoff. Mom and Dad were both cremated, and their ashes given to us in sturdy boxes. Sis has Dad's ashes, I have Mom's. I've considered mixing their ashes with cement and casting blocks with their name and dates cast in, then using them in a decorative wall on my patio.

 

[clintsfolly]

When I go the kids know to dump mt ashes in the salt lick on the island! Most of my live I have used the deer for nourishment and will give some back. In the long run I may end up on someone wall as a nice rack of horns!

 

[5of7]

When my brother died and was cremated, the hole was dug with post hole diggers.

When our Son died, we got a real nice solid brass and enameled urn for about 1/2 of his ashes and the rest went into the St. Joseph river that passes through Mendon.

we, (my wife and i) will be cremated also. I like the ammo box idea, but I think I will go into the river with Donald.

 

[Kevin]

exavid,

My dad is the same. They are still alive, but it i buy an expensive urn from a funeral home, he wouldn't be happy, dead or not. I would think the ammo can used too carry tools would be more fitting than a gold leafed fancy urn. So good for you.

 

[Bob Wright]

Nothing wrong with cremation, I reckon, but just doesn't appeal to me.

I don't want anybody looking down on my ashes and sayin', "Don't he look natural."


Bob Wright

Lots of Christians don't believe cremation is appropriate, thinking God will have to try to find your ashes. Seems to me that Judgement Day involves your soul, not your earthly body......

On the contrary, it is a bodily resurrection, this on the day we call the Rapture. At some point during the resurrection, Christians will get a Glorified Body. Our bodily resurrection is compared to the resurrection in the body of the Lord Jesus Christ.

And, no, my God will not be "trying to find my ashes."


Bob Wright

 

[A.J.]

My wife and I actually have our deceased dogs cremated. We have 4 on the shelf (Maggie, Alice, Izzy, Lenny). The 5th urn contains the ashes of a dog belonging to a deceased friend.

We were supposed to bury the ashes alongside the friend. Unfortunately, his family made a series of catastrophic financial missteps. They sold off the property and we no longer have access. So instead; we just leave Buddy up on the shelf with our dogs.

What's gonna happen to me and my wife? I really don't know but prefer to keep it as cheap and simple as humanly possible. Pouring the ashes in the Grand River (Michigan) would be cool.

 

[blackhawknj]

When asked where he wanted to be buried, Bob Hope said "Surprise me."
"If any of you cry at my funeral I'll never speak to you again." Stan Laurel

 

[blume357]

I think a 30 caliber ammo can is enough... there's really not a while lot left once they toast you.

With a 30 cal. can you'd still have enough room for a few cigars and and at least a pint of good bourbon.

 

[Colonialgirl]

Nothing wrong with cremation, I reckon, but just doesn't appeal to me.

I don't want anybody looking down on my ashes and sayin', "Don't he look natural."


Bob Wright

Lots of Christians don't believe cremation is appropriate, thinking God will have to try to find your ashes. Seems to me that Judgement Day involves your soul, not your earthly body......

On the contrary, it is a bodily resurrection, this on the day we call the Rapture. At some point during the resurrection, Christians will get a Glorified Body. Our bodily resurrection is compared to the resurrection in the body of the Lord Jesus Christ.

And, no, my God will not be "trying to find my ashes."


Bob Wright

Well, Considering what happens to a body that is buried long term in the earth, I don't think that is the correct interpretation when that day comes

 

[Colonialgirl]

Dad's ashes were scattered at sea courtesy of the US Navy; A twenty year vet.

 

[gasbag]

When I die my wife is going to have me cremated.
She will then put the ashes in an hour glass.
Says that way she will finally get some work out of me.

 

[A.J.]

When I die my wife is going to have me cremated.
She will then put the ashes in an hour glass.
Says that way she will finally get some work out of me.

LOL!!!!!!!

 

[Bob Wright]

Lots of Christians don't believe cremation is appropriate, thinking God will have to try to find your ashes. Seems to me that Judgement Day involves your soul, not your earthly body......

Well, Considering what happens to a body that is buried long term in the earth, I don't think that is the correct interpretation when that day comes

[/quote]

I didn't interpret it, just read it. It was said that Lazarus would already be stinking, but he came out O.K.

But, regardless what state our bodies might be in at the time, look how Adam started out!


Bob Wright

 

[Tom W]

Don't you supposed God can figure out how to change a person's ashes into a body? I sure hope so, because my late wife wanted to be, and was, cremated. Myself, I don't care, because I'll be dead, enjoying Heaven. Probably won't make it to the Rapture, altho that's not a given.

 

[blackhawknj]

I take a very expansive view of the Creator's powers. Yes, look how Adam started out. And Eve.

 

[Bob Wright]

Don't you supposed God can figure out how to change a person's ashes into a body? I sure hope so, because my late wife wanted to be, and was, cremated. Myself, I don't care, because I'll be dead, enjoying Heaven. Probably won't make it to the Rapture, altho that's not a given.

One way or another, you will.

Bob Wright

 

[vito]

The bad thing about using an ammo box or any other container that is not obviously for human remains is that anyone who comes across it in the future will open it, and probably dump out what they think is dust or debris. The good thing about a ammo box is that you could enlist the cooperation of the family and as each member dies, the ashes would be added to the ammo box until only one person is left and then they can decide who gets the box after they die. You could put the one box up on the mantel over the fireplace and feel like the whole family is still around.