Grounds, Services, & Policies

Monocacy Cemetery is open to visitors every day from sunrise to sunset.

The directors and caretakers of Monocacy Cemetery strive to protect the grounds and maintain a visual quality befitting the cemetery’s sacred purpose. We therefore ask that visitors assist us by observing the following:

• Park on roadways in a manner that allows other vehicles to pass.
• Fresh flowers may be placed on graves at any time. Plastic flowers are prohibited.
• All grading, landscaping, site improvements, or care of grounds shall be done only under the direction of cemetery directors and staff.
• All openings and closing of sites, and all interments, disinterments, inurnments, and removals shall be made only under the direction of cemetery directors and staff.

Plastic flowers are not permitted on grave sites.

Lot and grave site owners are prohibited from planting permanent trees and shrubs on cemetery property. Although well intentioned, such plantings obscure and damage monuments and cause harm to burial sites over time. Due to financial constraints, the cemetery cannot accept responsibility for unapproved plantings. Alterations to individual property in the cemetery require the written consent of the Board of Directors.

Site owners are not permitted to add fencing, borders, or other enclosures or landscaping around any grave site or lot, including coping, curbing, hedging, or grave mound borders. Walkways made of brick, cinder, tile, terra cotta, sand, cement, gravel, wood, or other materials are not allowed on any lot. Monocacy Cemetery reserves the right to remove all such alterations to lots and sites.

The cemetery assumes no responsibility for items left at grave sites. We will remove items considered unsafe, unsightly, unauthorized, or inappropriate.

The cemetery is not liable for floral pieces, baskets, or floral frames or attachments, beyond the acceptance of such floral pieces for funeral services held in the cemetery.

Non-floral items intended for indefinite placement directly on or positioned above grave sites are prohibited.

No items may be attached to headstones or grave markers except for recognized military medallions. Alterations of headstones or grave markers is prohibited.

The cemetery is not liable for lost, misplaced, or broken flower vases; for frozen plants or herbage of any kind; or for plantings damaged by the elements, thieves, vandals, or causes beyond the cemetery’s control.

The Board of Directors of Monocacy Cemetery may remove all floral design, flowers, weeds, trees, shrubs, plants, or herbage of any kind from the cemetery as soon as, in its collective judgment, they become unsightly, dangerous, detrimental, or diseased, or when they do not conform to the standards commonly maintained by the rest of the cemetery.

Under the direction of cemetery directors and caretakers, volunteers annually place flags alongside Veterans’ graves prior to Memorial Day and Veterans Day and remove the flags the weekend following each observance. If your loved one served in the military but has not yet been honored with a flag placement, please contact the cemetery to add the individual’s name to our veterans’ database.

Cemetery caretakers, board members, and volunteers participate in a clean-up day to prepare the grounds for seasonal mowing and maintenance. This occurs the third Sunday of March and November. Signs are posted at each entrance as a reminder of the annual clean-up days.

We ask that family members remove all seasonal objects and decorations prior to the annual clean-up day. Items still remaining on the clean-up day will be discarded.

Procurement and installation of headstones and grave markers are the responsibility of the lot or grave site owner(s). Grave markers must be professionally installed by a qualified contractor or person, with a proper foundation according to industry standards, so as to promote their long-term viability and stability. This includes installation of an appropriate concrete foundation to support the grave marker.

Lot and grave site owners are required to contact the Cemetery prior to placement of a headstone or marker, so the proper location may be verified and marked prior to installation of the foundation. If a grave marker is installed in the wrong location, and the Cemetery was not given the opportunity to verify and mark the location, the owner(s) will be held responsible for the removal and re-installation of the grave marker.

Lot and grave site owners are responsible for the maintenance and care of headstones and markers in perpetuity. Owners are expected to maintain headstones and markers in good, stable, and clean condition, and to initiate repairs or replacements should it become necessary.

Lot and grave site owners are prohibited from planting permanent trees and shrubs on cemetery property. Although well intentioned, such plantings obscure monuments and damage burial sites over time. Due to financial constraints, the cemetery cannot accept responsibility for unapproved plantings. All alterations to individual property in the cemetery require the written consent of the Board of Directors.

In circumstances where a family burial site(s) have remained unused, a descendant of the original site purchaser may request to claim the site(s) through the process of Rightful Ownership. This would require the person(s) to notify all known living relatives to let them know their intention of using burial sites that were purchased by their common ancestor. This technically releases Monocacy Cemetery from any issue that may be brought up in the future if a relative was not contacted.

Download the Certification of Rightful Ownership, contact all the relatives, fill out the form, and sign it in the presence of a Notary Public. Mail the form to Monocacy Cemetery at the address shown at the bottom of the form.