Flying Angel (Eppenauer) - Mt. Pleasant Cemetery - New Franklin, MO - Funerary Art on Waymarking.com

County of statue: Howard County
Location of statue: CR-450 & MO-5, about 1 mile N of New Franklin downtown, Mount Pleasant Cemetery

This is a young lady, only 6 months of age, when she passed, who was (is) remembered by this flying angel atop her tombstone.
When I first saw it I thought is was a wide receiver out for a long touchdown pass ... but, no. The pose the cherub angel is holding is similar, but not a football thing, but chasing something else.

The fingers of both hands are broken off, and the tips of each wing is now broken. I surely hope it was not done by the lawn mowers in the cemetery.

Tombstone Text:

"If you get a glimpse of an angle while driving down the road, it's likely you are driving by a cemetery. Wander into a cemetery abd you'll likely see dozens of these heavenly messengers dotting the landscape. Despite their winged countenance, they are tremendously variable in their posture and expression. While some are draped over tombs in grief, others seem ready to take flight with heavenly joy and aspiration. Tears stream from the eyes on one; another face is filled with adoration, another manages a wistful smile.
Skilled sculptors have, indeed, brought cold stone and bronze to life.

Cherubim:
These angels were sent to guard the way of the tree of life. The name comes from the Assyrian or Akkadian word karibu, meaning "one who intercedes." Originally they were depicted as the bearers of God's throne, as the charioteers, and as powerful beings with four wings and four faces. Various occult works put Gabriel, Raphael, and Satan (before his fall) as rulers of the cherubim. Nowadays they are more associated with Valentine's Day cards than gatekeepers. In the cemetery they are often seen on monuments for children." _ Stories in Stone, A field guide to cemetery symbolism and Iconography; by Douglas Keister, pages 162 & 167