About Mount Vernon Memorial Park Cemetery

Download General Purpose Rules and Regulations

For the mutual protection of all lot and crypt purchasers, the following rules and regulations have been revised and adopted by the Mount Vernon Memorial Park (Cemetery). These regulations are intended to protect the Interment Right Owner and preserve the beauty of the Cemetery. All persons visiting or performing work within the Cemetery will be subject to these rules and regulations. The Cemetery is private property, and its management has the right to require full compliance with all of its rules and regulations and retains control and supervision over all lots sold.

1. The Cemetery will take reasonable action to protect Interment Right Owners and property from loss or damage caused by vandals or thieves.
2. The Cemetery disclaims any responsibility or liability for loss or damage caused by independent contractors, thieves, vandals, acts of God, or persons other than the Cemetery and its employees.
3. All persons who enter the Cemetery do so at their own risk and should exercise care. Any person injured while in the Cemetery shall not hold the Cemetery liable for any injuries sustained.
4. The Cemetery will try to accommodate reasonable requests for interment services, but reserves the right to approve all service scheduling.
5. Only Cemetery employees are allowed to perform work within the Cemetery without permission from the Cemetery management.
6. The Cemetery shall have the right to enter upon or use any adjoining lot or lots to carry out its duties as to interments, moving/erection of monuments or markers, etc., without notice to the Interment Right Owner.
7. All in-ground burials are required to have an outer burial container/vault.
8. A gasketed, metal casket is required for all mausoleum crypt entombments.
9. The Cemetery grounds provide space for the remembrance of loved ones. Visitor conduct should always respect the rights and sensitivities of others. Firearms and alcoholic beverages are not permitted on the grounds. Signs, notices, or advertisements of any kind are not permitted unless posted by Cemetery staff.
10. Items not permitted on a lot within the Cemetery include, but are not limited to, the following: coping, curbing, decorative rocks, fencing, hedging, grave mounds, borders, or enclosures.
11. Pets must be kept on a leash, remain on the paved roads or sidewalks, and are not allowed on the grass or in the Mausoleum.
12. All Interment Right Owners are required to notify the Cemetery of any change of address. All notices required to be sent shall be sent to the last recorded address, and such notices shall be deemed adequate.

Download Markers & Monuments Rules and Regulations

All memorials must be made of the highest quality standard bronze or granite. Colors, emblems and epitaphs are subject to approval by Cemetery Management. The Cemetery shall have the authority to reject any memorial that, because of its size, type, design, inscription, quality, color, or construction method, is not suitable. The Cemetery reserves the right to reject or remove a marker or other objects that do not comply with the standards of the Cemetery. The Cemetery will not accept a marker or monument for installation unless a sketch has been furnished showing the dimensions, material, and content, including emblems and epitaph, and permission from the proper agent of the Interment Right Owner.

1. Interment Right Owners or their representatives must purchase and arrange the installation of a permanent memorial, plaque, or engraving within one year of the use of Interment Rights (burial, entombment, or inurnment).
2. All memorials must be made of the highest-quality bronze or granite and produced or procured by a vendor operating in the United States.
3. The Cemetery shall have the authority to reject any memorial that, because of its size, type, design, inscription, quality, color, or construction method, is not suitable.
4. The Cemetery reserves the right to reject or remove any marker or other object that does not comply with the Cemetery’s standards.
5. The Cemetery will not accept a marker or monument for installation unless a sketch has been submitted to the Memorial Park office showing the dimensions, material, and content, including emblems and epitaph, and permission from the proper agent of the Interment Right Owner.
6. Memorial Park is owned and operated by a Baptist Church. As such, non-Christian religious symbols or engravings that do not align with our identity are not permitted. Epitaphs in other languages must be translated into English before approval.
7. Memorial Park will not approve a permanent memorial of any kind purchased from Amazon.
8. A flower vase or holder must be incorporated into your permanent memorial design if you want to memorialize your loved one(s) with fresh or artificial flowers on special occasions. Please discuss this vase requirement with your headstone vendor and Cemetery Management.
9. Glass, Ceramic, Plastic, or other vase styles installed on the grassy areas are prohibited and will be removed immediately.
10. All fees or encumbrances due on a lot, including any installation fee, must be paid in full before any memorial is installed on the lot.
11. If a memorial is placed where it is necessary to remove it for interment or disinterment, the Cemetery shall have the right to remove such memorial without notice to the Interment Right Owner.
12. The Cemetery may correct any error in placing a foundation or memorial at its own expense and without liability or prior notice to the Interment Right Owner.
13. Memorials shall be set per the Cemetery’s general plan. Not more than one permanent memorial may be placed on a grave. The only exception is for members of the U.S. Military, in which case one headstone (appropriate to the rules) and one flat footstone will be allowed with prior approval.
14. Individual monuments cannot exceed 28” in width or 3’ in height. Companion monuments must not exceed 56” in width or 3’ in height. Children’s Area monuments must not exceed 24” wide & 21” high.
15. The cemetery no longer allows the installation of any bench.
16. All special requests not covered under these specifications must be submitted to Cemetery Management for approval.

Download Floral Regulations

1. Funeral flowers, holders, containers, baskets, and easels will be removed between the third and fifth day after the funeral service.
2. One garden flag, no higher than 2 feet, is permitted and must be placed to the left or right side or in front and as close to the marker as possible. No flags or remembrances may be placed behind the marker, as they will encroach on burial space above or beside other spaces.
3. The Cemetery or its staff is not responsible for damage to any decorative item. Excessive items jeopardize the Cemetery’s beauty, inhibit proper landscape practices, and will be removed without prior notice.
4. The Cemetery reserves the right to remove all flowers, wreaths, or other decorations from lots as soon as they become unsightly, no matter the time of year.
5. Spring cleanup begins March 1, and fall cleanup begins October 1. On these dates, grounds staff will remove all out-of-season, faded, or otherwise worn or deteriorated décor. If you wish to save items you have placed on a grave, please remove them before these dates.
6. Plantings of live flowers or trees are not allowed at any time. The Cemetery strictly enforces this.
7. Stuffed animals are not allowed to be left on or around burial spaces.
8. Hanging baskets are not allowed at any time.
9. Leaving food or beverages of any kind on a burial space is prohibited. Any item of this nature will be removed immediately.
10. In-ground solar lights are prohibited. These may be placed in an existing permanent vase.
11. Special Christmas arrangements and wreaths are permitted from December 1 to March 1. The Cemetery grounds crew will begin spring cleanup on March 1st, and all Christmas items will be removed without prior notice. Please remove items you wish to save before March 1.
12. Larger special occasion wreaths, baskets, and other decorative items for Easter, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Valentine’s Day, Veteran’s Day, etc., will be removed after 15 days.
13. Decorations should be confined to the individual burial space and not intrude into the common area. All decorations must be secured against strong winds, especially during winter.
14. Decorations or other memorial items left on the grass will be removed without prior notice.
15. Cemetery will not be liable for any flowers or decorations removed or lost by any cause.
16. Floral arrangements, decorations, ornaments, lights, or flags that become discolored, wilted, seasonally inappropriate, or unsightly in any manner will be removed without prior notice
17. Small statues, ceramic ware, glass, plastic, and porcelain figurines are prohibited.
18. Trees are a part of the common areas; wind chimes or other decorations placed in trees will require prior approval by the Cemetery. Items will be subject to removal as necessary and without prior notification.