Month: January 2025

After more than 50 years out in the elements, the original Memorial Park Walls of Remembrance were showing significant damage. DRBA’s maintenance crews spent two years restoring them in time for the 2011 rededication.

With a growing desire for more life-affirming alternatives to traditional cemeteries, memorial parks are gaining popularity. These serene spaces allow families to plant trees as a living tribute to their loved ones.

The Gold Star Monument

Gold Star Monuments are dedicated to those families who have lost a loved one in military service. They are designed to give a place of permanence for the family and also show that their community cares about them and their sacrifice. The first Gold Star Memorial was built by Medal of Honor recipient Hershel “Woody” Williams and is now located in West Virginia. He also founded the Hershel Woody Williams Medal of Honor Foundation to build them in all 50 states.

The park features a lively playground and a grassy field that is perfect for a family picnic. It is a great location for local kids and visitors that come to visit the historic town of Beacon. The landscape is pleasing to the eye and it offers a tranquil setting for remembrance and reflection.

The Submariners Monument

Many navies preserve conning towers of submarines as memorials to their submarine forces. One example is the preserved submarine USS Cobia (SS-245), now a museum in Manitowoc, Wisconsin. The Greek submarine Papanikolis also has its conning tower intact and is on display in front of the National Maritime Museum.

This monument, dedicated to the 52 submarines lost in World War II, is a testament to the heroic efforts of submariners. It shows the great contribution of the Navy sub force to our nation’s freedom and to peace.

This smooth black granite memorial monument is a tribute to those submariners who gave their lives in all wars. It is a symbol of the hope that future times will favor peace over conflict. The Delaware Military Order of the Purple Heart erected this monument.

The Korea Monument

The Korea Monument honors US Service Members who lost their lives in the Korean War. The wall of names lists 36,000 American veterans and 7,174 Korean Augmentation to the US Army soldiers who died in the war.

The monument is set on a turtle-shaped base and crowned by twin dragon sculptures to express the folk belief that souls of the dead ride to heaven on the backs of turtles. It stands on a former May 18th Cemetery or Mangweol-dong, a burial ground for the victims of the democratic uprising and its aftermath.

To reduce impacts to the original Memorial, the preferred design added a low angled wall integrated into the landscape; increased the diameter of the circular plaza outside the two rows of linden trees to provide circulation around the new walls; raised the existing berm by four to ten percent to conceal the wall and maintain reciprocal views of the Memorial and National Mall; and built a new directional entry to the park.

The Blue Star Monument

The Blue Star Monument honors men and women from Delaware and New Jersey who died while serving in the U.S. Armed Forces in the Vietnam War. It is part of a memorial park that includes several other war monuments and commemorative structures.

Unlike traditional cemeteries, memorial parks are designed to be pleasing to the eye. They also include amenities like recreational areas and ponds that can serve as a relaxing backdrop. This makes them a great place to spend a day with family.

A textured walkway and flagpole with lights are incorporated into the primary design. The landscaping is planted with cypresses that will grow into small trees, black-eyed Susans and other perennials. The marker was funded by the local Blue Star Mothers and the National Garden Club.

The Peace Statue

The Peace Statue represents a universal symbol for world peace and is a great place to pay respects to deceased veterans. It has two classically robed female figures holding hands in a gesture of peace. Grief is covered in mourning and History holds a tablet that reads, “They died that their country might live.”

The Embracing Peace statue is located at Memorial Park, formerly a Dundee neighborhood golf course. This park includes a playground and several baseball fields. It also has the Memorial Park Family Aquatic Center where people cool off during the summer.

Typically, traditional cemeteries are run by government agencies while memorial parks are private institutions that are managed by professionals with the experience in managing and maintaining these types of locations. This makes a difference in the level of professionalism and care given to these places.

The funeral industry is highly regulated. In New York, only licensed funeral directors may arrange for the care, transport and preparation of a body for burial or cremation.

When you visit a funeral home showroom, the Funeral Rule requires that they first show you a price list and an itemized statement. This will include the funeral director’s fees.

Licensing

To ensure that the dead are handled with dignity and respect, a funeral bureau must be licensed. The Bureau of Funeral Services regulates these businesses and investigates complaints. It also conducts inspections of funeral homes, crematoria and cemeteries. It also ensures that death care professionals meet the necessary educational requirements for licensure.

To become a funeral director, you must graduate from a mortuary science program accredited by the American Board of Funeral Service Education and pass state and national licensure exams. To be an embalmer, you must complete an apprenticeship and pass the International Conference of Examiners’ National Board Examination (NBE – Arts and NBE – Sciences).

Funeral directors are required to register with the Department of Health on a biennial basis. To register, they must present a valid funeral director registration card issued by the New York State Bureau of Funeral Directing and a letter on their employer’s business stationery signed by the firm’s manager (licensed funeral director) stating their name and license number.

Arrangements

In a time of grief and sorrow, many people are asked to take on the task of arranging the funeral. This can be very stressful. It is important to know your rights as the “customer.” Under New York State law, only a licensed funeral director can make arrangements for final disposition. These services may include the care, moving, preparation and burial or cremation of the body, filing the death certificate, securing permits and arranging for notices. A basic arrangements fee is included in the price of the casket or urn purchased.

Funeral directors also work with clients to choose funeral or memorial services that reflect the wishes of the deceased and their family. They also help write an obituary and provide information about casket and interment options.

Funeral homes must provide a General Price List, which lists the prices (or range of prices) for the merchandise and services they regularly offer. The list must be given to you at the beginning of the arrangement conference and you cannot be charged more than the prices listed on the list.

Caskets

In most countries outside of the United States, people use the word ‘coffin’ to describe the ceremonial box that holds your loved one during the funeral and burial. A casket is also used to hold something else, like jewelry or important documents.

Caskets come in a variety of shapes, materials, and prices. Basic coffins cost between $800 and $1,500 and are typically made of plywood or medium-density fiberboard. They have flat lids and plastic handles, while more elaborate caskets have metal handles and a tiered top.

You can also choose a casket made of wood, steel, or precious metals. These are usually more expensive than wooden caskets. Some caskets even include a memory tube, which is a small glass tube that screws into the exterior of the casket to identify who it belongs to in case of an unattended grave or cremation.

If you choose to purchase a casket from a manufacturer or warehouse store, funeral homes are required to include it in your total bill for services rendered. This is a result of a federal law known as the Funeral Rule.

Cemeteries

In many countries, cemeteries are considered to be sacred grounds and a final resting place for the dead. As such, they are protected from redevelopment and may require a permanent care plan in order to be allowed to operate. These plans typically include the sale of burial plots and crypts. This income is then put into a managed fund and used to maintain the cemetery in perpetuity.

As people are increasingly choosing cremation, older cemeteries are running out of space. This has led to a move away from traditional graveyards and toward landscaped memorial parks and newer cemetery facilities on the edge of towns and cities.

Pre-arrangement for funeral and cemetery services is a way to save your family the burden of making last minute decisions at a time of great emotional distress. It is also a way to secure lower costs. Pre-arrangement includes the selection of a cemetery and casket, as well as a headstone or marker for the grave.

Mortuary science is a field of study that prepares individuals to become morticians and funeral directors. Students learn how to respectfully preserve and handle deceased bodies and how to support grieving families.

Many people assume that a mortuary is similar to a funeral home. However, this theory is flawed.

Preparing the Deceased for Farewell

Mortuaries serve as a physical and emotional space for grieving families to say their final farewells. They are staffed by compassionate individuals who take their work seriously and have an unwavering sense of responsibility. They are committed to respecting the wishes of those who have made pre-need arrangements and ensuring that religious or cultural traditions are observed if requested.

To prepare the deceased for viewing, the funeral director washes their face and hair, sutures any incisions and dries them. They then apply cosmetics to make their appearance look natural. They may use specialized mortuary makeup or regular makeup found in stores.

To embalm the body, they begin by making an incision on the deceased’s right side of the neck to access their carotid artery and jugular vein. They remove blood and replace it with a formaldehyde-based fluid.

Keeping Accurate Records

Whether they’re holding a body for viewing or performing cremation, funeral homes and mortuaries must keep accurate records for every body in their care. This is important for meeting legal requirements and providing transparency to customers during a difficult time. It also helps ensure that families receive services they can trust.

While mortuary law has some similarities to other legal fields like health and property, it is unique in its focus on the treatment and final disposition of human remains. This is an area of law that requires special expertise to navigate, including the ability to stay current on changing regulations and empathetically support grieving families.

Using a digital document management system can help funeral home and cemetery staff streamline record-keeping processes, reduce errors, and make documents easily accessible for their clients.

Supporting Families in Grief

Mortuary and funeral home staff members support grieving families by providing a safe and compassionate environment. They also offer education about grief, helping individuals understand and accept the loss of their loved one. They may also provide literature and host group support sessions.

Mortuaries and funeral homes must comply with state laws that govern their handling of deceased individuals. These laws cover everything from embalming to burial and cremation. They also address consumer protections like requirements for transparent pricing and written contracts.

Some states require that funeral directors and embalmers be licensed. Additionally, they must adhere to ethical standards that promote honesty and professionalism. They must also respect the wishes of deceased individuals and their families and avoid exploitative practices. This requires a careful balance of legal and moral obligations.

Meeting Legal Requirements

Mortuary law is a unique area of legal practice that involves the regulations and practices surrounding the handling, burial, cremation, and disposal of human remains. This specialized field of law focuses on the rights of families and their loved ones while also considering the health concerns and public safety issues.

This includes laws that address embalming, funeral homes, cemeteries, and crematories. It is crucial for mortuary professionals to understand and comply with these laws in order to serve their clients and the community well.

For example, the Federal Trade Commission’s Funeral Rule requires funeral providers to give consumers a General Price List (GPL) that they can keep. This GPL must include a basic services fee that covers overhead costs. It must be offered to anyone who asks about funeral goods and services or prices, including those making pre-need arrangements.

Engaging with the Community

Mortuaries serve a vital role in assisting families who are dealing with grief. They also provide education and support to the community on end-of-life issues, funeral arrangements and more. They also offer a variety of services that allow people to remember loved ones in their own unique way.

The terms morgue, mortuary and crematorium are often used interchangeably, which might explain why there’s some confusion around what these locations do. In addition to their core functions, many mortuaries offer viewing and funeral services and have on-site cremation facilities.

To help connect with local communities, mortuaries can host cemetery tours and other events at their facilities. They can also get involved with community outreach activities such as sponsoring a local charity run or participating in a cultural celebration.

You probably won’t get ghosted for using the words graveyard and cemetery interchangeably, but it might be confusing to those who aren’t familiar with the distinction. The big clue is that a cemetery is usually unattached to a church.

It is also typically larger in size and can allow both followers of the religion and non-followers to be buried there.

Churchyards

Churchyards are picture-postcards of our past and provide rich archaeological resources for study, but they can also be difficult to manage. There can be a tension between the interests of archaeologically-led DAC investigations and respect for the mission of churches, which is primarily aimed at people living in the present.

Traditionally churchyards contained burial ground and the church precincts, and were the most ancient enclosed land in a parish or town. Many had stoups where holy water could be collected by those about to enter the church; and some had porch altars where marriage contracts were signed.

In recent years churchyards have seen a rise in visitors, often to research their family history. Encourage visitors to record the wildlife they see on iNaturalist – it’s simple and rewarding.

Cemeteries

With more than 100 cemeteries in the five boroughs, and plenty of room still left to go, NYC’s dead speak volumes to those who visit their resting places. The contracts and by laws of a cemetery association can make for daunting reading, especially when it comes to the rights of burial sites.

Generally speaking, a cemetery is specifically designed and maintained for the interment of bodies. It’s not just a patch of land that happened to be available beside a church. Ongoing costs for a cemetery include labor for gravediggers and landscapers, property taxes, utilities, water and irrigation, and non-labor security expenses. Some cemetery fees also cover maintenance of the monuments. Other ongoing costs are associated with the operation of a funeral home and the sale of caskets and cremation services.

Burials

The burial of the dead may involve various rituals, according to culture. It may also be influenced by sanitary and practical considerations, including the desire to prevent unpleasant smells resulting from decomposition. In addition, some cultures believe that a body that is buried in a certain place will be transported to a different location when the time comes for resurrection.

Often, the dead are buried in a grave marked with a memorial headstone. This usually displays a name and date of death. In some societies, people with a high social status are buried in an individual crypt under their place of worship.

In some cases, a known person is buried anonymously in order to avoid desecration or the possibility of grave robbing or vandalism. This can be especially true of historical figures.

Monuments

Monuments include headstones and grave markers, as well as statues or carvings. In general, they honor the dead and double as informational artifacts for descendants to research.

Headstones can feature a family name, dates of birth and death, or symbols of religion and culture. Some religious symbols (like angels, crosses, cherub heads and gates) or memento mori (“symbolic reminders of death”) also have meanings that can provide further context to the deceased.

Gravestones can be carved from many materials, and the design options are virtually unlimited. Foot marker-style monuments are often the least expensive, but are more easily damaged during mowing and other cemetery work. Restoration is a highly specialized job for monumental masons and involves careful structural investigations of the stones. See our technical guidance for more.

Maintenance

Although most cemeteries provide mowing and other general landscape maintenance, individual gravesites often fall to family members for maintenance. They may need to remove withered flowers or weeds, trim grass around the tomb, and clean the stone. They also need to ensure that the gravesite is free of salts, which can cause damage.

These efforts create space for the growth of native plant species, which increase carbon sequestration and reduce NO2 emissions. They also create a habitat for wildlife and encourage visitors to the cemetery.

Some people like to decorate their loved one’s grave or memorial site with flowers, mementos, and other items. These can be very meaningful, but they must be carefully placed. Moreover, they must comply with local regulations on cemetery decorations.