floral regulations calverton national cemetery - … cut flowers may be placed on graves at any...

Calverton National Cemetery 210 Princeton Blvd.

Calverton, NY 11933

(631) 727-5410

www.cem.va.gov

Our Mission: The National Cemetery Administration hon-

ors veterans with final resting places in na-

tional shrines and with lasting tributes that

commemorate their service to our nation.

Calverton National Cemetery

Floral Regulations

& Pick-Up Schedule

2012

We welcome and encourage fresh-cut

flowers throughout the year. Cemetery

visitors are free to use the containers lo-

cated in receptacles placed throughout the

grounds. Once the blooms are spent or

damaged by weather, they are removed.

During the mowing and grounds mainte-

nance season, all floral items will be re-

moved twice a month.

Artificial flowers are only allowed after

the end of grounds maintenance season in

the fall, from November 6th through March

30th.

On Easter and Memorial Day, potted

plants and artificial flowers may be placed

on gravesites five days before through five

days after the holiday. During the holiday

season, from December 1st to January

20th, holiday blankets, wreaths, and other

seasonal decorations may be placed on

gravesites.

We strongly urge you not to leave items

that have sentimental value at gravesites

as these possessions may not be returned

to you.

To maintain the dignity of the cemetery,

commemorative items, balloons, pin-

wheels, glass items, votive lights, statues,

shepherd’s hooks and permanent plant-

ings, among other items, are not allowed.

No item or object may be attached to a

headstone, columbarium cover or marker

in a national cemetery.

For your safety and to protect your per-

sonal property, please remember to always

lock your vehicle.

(See inside for a full list of regulations and pick-up

schedules.)

FLOWER PICK-UP DATES 2012

Holiday pick-up begins January 20th through completion.

Floral pick-up days will be Tuesday and Wednesday on the following dates:

NOTE: Columbarium flowers will be picked up 2nd and 4th Wednesdays.

Holiday wreaths or blankets are permitted on graves during the holiday season beginning on December 1st. They will be removed be-ginning January 20th through completion

each year, as well as all other grave decora-tions.

The various local florists are privately owned and operated businesses. These florists are not affiliated with Calverton National Ceme-tery and are not authorized to represent the

Federal Government or the cemetery.

February: 21 22

March: 20 21

April: 17 18

May: 1 & 2 22 & 23

June: 5 & 6 26 & 27

July: 10 & 11 24 & 25

August: 7 & 8 21 & 22

September: 4 & 5 18 & 19

October: 2 & 3 16 & 17

November: 13 14

FLORAL REGULATIONS

Fresh cut flowers may be placed on graves

at any time. Floral items may be removed from graves as soon as they become faded and unsightly.

Artificial flowers may be placed on graves

only during the period from November 6th to March 30th.

Plantings will not be permitted on graves at

any time.

Permanent types of flower containers are

NOT AUTHORIZED.

Potted plants and artificial flowers will be

permitted on graves during the period 5 days before and 5 days after Easter

Sunday and Memorial Day.

Balloons, statues, vigil lights, glass objects

of any nature and any other type of com-memorative items are not permitted on graves at any time.

Floral items and other types of decorations

may not be secured to the markers. If

found, they will be removed and disposed of in accordance with federal regulations.

During the lawn mowing and ground main-

tenance season, all floral items will be re-moved from graves twice a month. The

only exceptions will be during Memorial Day and Veterans Day holiday weeks.

All items placed on gravesites become the

property of the United States government and will be disposed of under federal regu-

lations. Calverton National Cemetery is not responsible for flowers after they have been placed on gravesites. Flowers

are placed at your own risk. They will not be replaced by the cemetery if they are

damaged, lost or stolen. Wild deer may eat

the fresh flowers and arrangements (see photo on left).

Transportation is available, weather and

ground conditions permitting, to physically challenged visitors needing assistance to

gravesites from the hours of 8:00am – 4:00pm Monday through Friday.

Here are a few exam-

ples of what is not

permitted on a

marker. The small

hook with the hanging

plaque, the sticker

affixed to the head-

stone and the rocks

and pine needles are

all against federal

regulations. (photos

above).

Nothing taller than

the headstone

should be placed

on a grave. The

balloons in the

above photo are

against federal

regulations.

Balloons deflate

after a few days

making the grave

unsightly. (photo

right)