LABELLE – What decorations are appropriate on a grave?  

At their Oct. 28 meeting, Hendry County Commissioners grappled with the problem of wanting to keep the county cemeteries looking good while at the same time respecting the wishes of grieving family members.

They also discussed the problems faced by maintenance staff trying to mow and use a weedeater around the graves.

Only one upright monument is allowed on each grave, installed at the top of the grave. Only one bench is allowed per grave, installed at the foot of the grave.

A perimeter coping of marble, granite or poured concrete may be used to enclose the gravesite. When a coping is installed, the family is responsible for the upkeep of the area inside the coping. No items (other than the headstone) are allowed on top of a grave that does not have a coping.

On the issue of solar lights on graves, commissioners appeared to agree that a maximum of four solar lights per grave site would be appropriate, so long as the lights are inside the perimeter coping.

Some graves have flag poles with large American flags. Commissioners agreed these should be allowed to stay so long as the flag is not worn or frayed. It is disrespectful to fly an American flag that is tattered. Smaller flags that may be placed on the graves of veterans on holidays should be removed within a specified time frame. It was noted that the small flags weather very quickly.

Items that have caused problems in the past include (but are not limited to) pavers, landscaping rocks not installed inside perimeter coping, ballons, banners, tablets, baskets, boxes, easels, arbors, wire screens, designed rustic work, vases, glassware, china, shelves, pinwheels, shepherd’s hooks, wind chines, bird houses, bird feeders, chairs, trellis, lawn furniture, candles and bric-a-brac.

These items are considered injurious to the beauty or repose of a cemetery and shall not be allowed except at the time of a funeral and 7 days immediately following the funeral.

Commissioners also considered what county staff should do about graves that have copies but are no longer cared for by family members. In some cases, the family members who   copings have moved away or died. It was suggested county staff could take photos of the graves and consult commissioners.

Discussion of changes to the cemetery ordinance will continue at the November meeting in Clewiston.