Kiosk of Discarded Cemetery Mementos

Took my mother to visit both my father, grandfather, and grandmother's graves today at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery this morning. In addition to regularly planting flowers at the family stones twice a year, on Memorial Day and Veteran's Day, we visit to replace the small American flags placed there. (Both my father and grandfather are veteran's.) Despite clearly posted grave do's and don'ts regarding decorating sites, I am always surprised by how many place artificial flowers and knick-knacks in memory of their dearly departed. I hadn't given it too much thought, but it does beg the question: what happens to these code violations once they're discovered by the proprietors?

While exiting the cemetery following our visit today we passed what looked to be a small kiosk of discarded items, much like a lost-and-found. Curious, we pulled into the small parking area, and I walked out to find a display of items left behind. Signs encouraged visitors to take things they had left behind back with them, with the caution that they would once again be removed if left again.

Father's Day

Before (6/15/13).

Yesterday morning, my mother and I went to Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, in Rochester, New York, where my father is buried to plant some flowers and, as it turned out, a flag. The last two times we had visited since his death earlier this year, we had agreed that ot woudl be a grand idea to freshen up the site a little bit. After noticing that the forecast for Father's Day included an 80% chance of rain, going the day before seemed like a better idea. There are always many visitors there working on their loved ones' graves, and today would be our turn.

After (6/15/13).

I, perhaps like you, used to think it was somewhat morbid to decorate grave sites. Of course, that was before it impacted me on a personal level. Now the practice seems to make more sense, which is usually how things go. As odd as it sounds, it was a cathartic experience stopping by the cemetery to planting some flowers, especially on a beautiful day in such close proximity to Father's Day. If this sound weird to you, I understand. I was in your position not too long ago.