When a loved one passes away and has been buried in a cemetery in Hagerstown, MD, a lovely way to connect with them is to visit the gravesite. This can be done on a special anniversary such as their birthday, a holiday, or any time when you just want to feel close to them. To let your loved one know you are thinking of them, you might wish to leave a little gift or token at the site. Although this is a nice gesture, every item isn’t welcomed in every cemetery. Knowing what you can – and can’t – leave will help ensure your item is within the cemetery guidelines and stays put on the gravesite. The most common type of event held after the cremation is a memorial service.

Items You Can Leave

While there are many items you can leave on a gravesite, some of the most popular that almost every cemetery allows are:

Flowers- While every cemetery will have its own regulations about flowers, generally speaking fresh and silk arrangements are permitted. When fresh flowers are placed, note that normally the cemetery staff will remove them in about a week once they begin to wilt.

Stones- The tradition of leaving stones has been around so long that it is not exactly clear where it originated. However, stronger with the Jewish faith today, many people still partake in this activity. The stones could be pebbles, river rocks, or other small rocks.

Grave blanket- A grave blanket is not made of fabric but rather woven evergreen. It is said to be from Scandinavian culture and is laid over the gravesite as a gesture of love symbolizing keep them warm.

Holiday decorations- While most cemeteries will allow décor for major holidays, you want to make sure it is tasteful and not intrusive to the overall tone of the cemetery.

Items You Should Not Leave

Items you should refrain from leaving at the gravesite include things like:

Vases - If you choose to leave flowers at the gravesite, use a ribbon or twine to tie the bouquet rather than using a vase. The reason is that vases are not biodegradable and are often made from material than can break and chip such as glass. This makes it difficult for the groundskeepers to keep the cemetery safe and free from hazardous objects.

Stuffed animals - Even if your cemetery allows the placement of stuffed animals, know that they will most likely not be there long. With rain, wind, snow, and dirt, these gifts end up looking pretty dirty and tattered, so the cemetery tends to remove them fairly quickly.

Decorations on stakes- Refrain from placing any stakes or other objects directly into the ground. This can make it very difficult for mowers and other groundskeepers to maintain the cemetery grounds.

Final Thoughts

We all grieve when someone we love dies, but if we are to heal, we must also mourn. It is always a good idea to have a list of what is, and what isn’t allowed in the cemetery in Hagerstown, MD. Planning an event can be difficult enough but keeping this list handy and refer to it before you head out to buy a token or visit your loved one. This will ensue that the gift you leave at the gravesite will be able to remain there for as long as possible.