Photo credit: Jeff Gabbard /123RF.com

Monuments and public memorials have been part of nearly every society in human history, including the Lincoln Memorial, the Taj Mahal, and the Great Pyramids. These public memorials help us remember the people who were important in our lives—from presidents to parents. 

A public memorial, such as park benches, trees, and pavers, serves as a tribute to a life well lived and a life worth remembering. And it is a final gift to a beloved person in our lives. Here are some suggestions for creating public memorials in a loved one’s honor:

Dedicate a Memorial Bench: Memorial benches provide a peaceful place to visit and reflect on your loved one. Families can make a tradition of visiting a memorial bench together. Granite, a common material used for memorial benches, is symbolic in that it is everlasting, much like the love that was shared with a loved one. Memorial benches can have a plaque engraved with your loved one’s name, or the memorialization can be engraved directly on a stone or metal bench. Find out from your local park, cemetery, or other meaningful location about the requirements for dedicating a bench.

Plant Flowers or Trees: Warm weather is the perfect time to plant flowers or a memorial tree in a loved one’s honor. Consider planting their favorite flower or tree, or choose a plant that symbolizes a certain emotion, such as love and remembrance. If you wish to contribute to reforestation efforts, tribute trees planted in the United States forests can be purchased through a living tribute or the Arbor Day Foundation to honor your friends and loved ones. From a single tree seedling to a large grove, these memorial trees are planted in forests of need across the country, helping them recover from disasters and giving back to the planet for generations to come.

Inscribe a Garden Stone: Another idea for an outdoor memorial is an engraved garden stone. Place it in your garden or yard and have it personalized with your loved one’s name, lifespan, and a meaningful quote or message. It can be shaped like a heart, an oval, or another significant shape to add even more of a personal touch. You can place the garden stone on a mantelpiece, in your garden, or in practically any location that reminds you of the person you've lost. You can even create a community memorial garden where everyone can come together and plant flowers to honor their loved ones. In addition, you can place memorial garden stones or another significant marker by the plants to honor their memory.

Place commemorative bricks and pavers: Whether it’s a memorial plaza, walkway, or park, memorial bricks and pavers can honor and memorialize loved ones. These important public memorials can be used to fundraise for organizations important to your loved one, or simply as an enhancement to the community your loved one lived in.  You can find existing opportunities, such as The National WWII Museum, which offers commemorative bricks and pavers to “create a lasting tribute to the WWII generation and to heroes who served our country during the war, US veterans, veteran organizations, and individuals who exemplify the American spirit.”

These public memorials provide a permanent and accessible place where survivors and descendants can visit and remember a loved one. They also beautify our public spaces and contribute to the well-being of our communities. Today, there are more options than ever to memorialize someone through a public memorial.

We appreciate you reading our blog. You can contact Raynor & D’Andrea Funeral Home at 1-800-737-0017. Or you can drop us a message here.