180 R.I. Code R. 180-RICR-20-00-1.6

Current through December 3, 2024

Section 180-RICR-20-00-1.6 - General Cemetery Rules

A. Visiting Hours. Visiting hours are established by the Administrator and posted at the main gate. Unauthorized visitors to the cemetery outside of these hours may be asked to leave. Trespassers in violation of the posted hours may be referred to the State Police. Unless otherwise posted, visiting hours are established to coincide with seasonal daylight hours:

1. October 1 through March 31, 7:00 a.m. through 5:00 p.m.

2. April 1 through September 30, 7:00 a.m. through 7:00 p.m.

3. The Administrator reserves to right to change these hours without notice in cases of inclement weather or when other safety concerns warrant.

B. General Rules

1. Memorial services or ceremonies within the cemetery, except private memorial services, require the prior approval of the Administrator.

2. Picketing, demonstrations, or similar conduct is not permitted on the cemetery grounds. This includes orations, distribution of materials, disorderly conduct, or any assembly of persons for purposes not consistent with the respectful intentions of this cemetery.

3. Radios, speakers, musical instruments, and other boisterous, loud or offensive noises are prohibited unless part of an approved memorial service or ceremony.

4. The display of any placard, banner, flag, or similar article within the cemetery grounds is not permitted without prior written approval of the Administrator.

5. The intentional damage, destruction or removal of any monument, grave marker or gravestone is strictly prohibited and will be referred to the State Police for violation of R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-20-2.

6. Dogs and other domestic animals, except service animals, are not permitted on cemetery grounds. Per R.I. Gen. Laws § 40-9.1-1.1, violators may be subject to a fine of five hundred dollars ($500.00) and/or removal from the grounds. Repeat violators or those refusing to comply with a request by the Cemetery Administrator will be referred to the State Police.

7. To preserve the sanctity of the cemetery, recreational activities such as sports, athletics, or picnics are not permitted.

8. Littering is prohibited. Receptacles are provided throughout the cemetery for trash.

9. Please obey posted speed limits and road closure signs.

10. The use of private recreational vehicles, including snowmobiles, dirt bikes, or four-wheel all-terrain vehicles is not permitted within the cemetery.

11. Personal motor vehicles are restricted to paved cemetery roadways. For handicap access to gravesites and when assistance is needed during periods of significant snowfall, please contact the Administrator or a RIVMC staff member.

12. The use of threatening, indecent or provocative language, including physical aggression, will not be tolerated on the cemetery grounds. Persons disrupting a memorial service or ceremony, harassing or attempting to obstruct RIVMC employees, or otherwise creating a hazardous condition, will be removed from the grounds.

13. Alcoholic beverages and drugs are prohibited on the cemetery grounds. Persons suspected to be under the influence of alcohol or drugs may be asked to leave the grounds.

14. The display or distribution of advertising or marketing materials, or any attempt to solicit business while within the cemetery grounds is not permitted.

15. Firearms and explosives are prohibited on cemetery grounds.

16. Hunting and fishing are prohibited on cemetery grounds.

C. Memorial Services and Ceremonies

1. Requests to conduct memorial services or ceremonies must be made to the Administrator, Rhode Island Veterans Memorial Cemetery, 301 South County Trail, Exeter, RI 02822. The Administrator will provide written notice of approval for the request prior to the proposed date of the service or ceremony.

2. Requests shall describe the proposed memorial service or ceremony in detail, including the purpose of the event, the estimated attendance, the expected length of the event, whether musical instruments, flags or programs are requested, and the name, phone and email address for the event's point of contact.

3. As a State cemetery, the Rhode Island Veterans Memorial Cemetery is not authorized to provide funding, equipment or staff to individuals or organizations for specific memorial services or ceremonies.

4. All memorial services and ceremonies in the Rhode Island Veterans Memorial Cemetery except for official State ceremonies, shall be conducted in accordance with the following Rules:

a. Services and ceremonies are to be memorial in nature and dedicated to honoring all those interred in the cemetery, to all those who have died in the military service of the United States, to all those who have died in the United States while serving during a particular conflict or while serving in a particular military unit or units, or to the memory of the individual or individuals interred or to be interred at the particular gravesite at which the services or ceremony is held.

b. The Rhode Island Veterans Memorial Cemetery is a non-public forum. Partisan activities, such as those involving commentary in support of, or in opposition to, or attempts to influence any current policy of the Government of the United States, or any group, association, or enterprise are prohibited.

c. Silence will be requested during military funeral honors, public wreath laying ceremonies, and memorial services at the WWII Monument.

d. Public memorial services and public wreath laying ceremonies are open to all members of the public.

D. Monuments

1. Private monuments or other individual markers are not permitted.

2. The names of the interred veterans may be inscribed on the Memorial Wall and Memorial Walkway border. Fees for the inscription of names are available at the Administration office.

3. Monuments to commemorate veterans of specific campaigns must be planned in consultation with the Administrator before construction begins.

4. Private monuments are not permitted. Monuments to commemorate an individual, group, or event may be erected with written approval from the Cemetery Administrator. The Administrator reserves the right to request changes to the specifications in order to preserve the natural setting and to maintain the cemetery's memorial design.

5. Upon review of the proposal, the Administrator will provide written notice of approval, denial, or any requested changes.

E. Gravesite Adornments

1. Flowers:

a. One (1) plastic container of cut natural flowers or a potted plant (also plastic) less than eight inches (8") in diameter may be placed on gravesites. Plastic cone vases for natural or silk flowers are available at the Administration Office. Flowers not in an eight inch (8") plastic or cone vase will be removed and disposed of.

b. Funeral pieces will be placed on racks in the area of the gravesite on the day of the interment and will be removed upon withering.

c. Flowers, natural or artificial, will be removed when withered or faded, or if weather conditions, such as wind, cause them to separate from the gravesite.

d. Evergreen wreaths or other holiday arrangements less than sixteen inches (16") in diameter or eight inch (8") potted poinsettias may be placed December 1st through January 31st, weather permitting. Decoration of cemetery trees or shrubs is not permitted.

e. Permanent plantings of trees, shrubs and flowers are prohibited. All requests for maintenance at a specific gravesite should be made to the Administration Office.

2. Decorative Items:

a. The Federal Department of Veterans Affairs does not permit adornments that are offensive, inconsistent with the dignity of the cemetery, or hazardous to cemetery personnel.

b. Adornments not permitted include glass, pottery, figurines, solar lights, upright crosses or crucifixes, statues, balloons, pinwheels, stake signs, or any item that poses a hazard to cemetery personnel or impedes maintenance of the grounds.

c. Unauthorized items will be removed from gravesites and surrounding areas as needed to facilitate cemetery maintenance and operations. At a minimum, the cemetery grounds will be cleared of all unauthorized adornments at the end of each month.

d. Gravesite markers and niche covers are property of the Federal Department of Veterans Affairs. No decorative items may be affixed (glued or taped) to marker or covers, including stickers, pictures, ornaments, candy, and flowers. If damage to the marker or cover results from an affixed item, the marker or cover will be re-ordered and the next-of-kin may be responsible for reimbursing the Federal Department of Veterans Affairs.

3. Flags:

a. The United States flag is flown over the Rhode Island Veterans Memorial Cemetery every day. Except for Memorial Day, no individual flags are permitted on gravesites.

b. Individual United States flags are placed on each gravesite for Memorial Day by RIVMC staff. Additional United States, POW/MIA, and Rhode Island State flags may be placed throughout the cemetery on Veterans Day, and during special events.

c. In order to ensure the utmost respect and care for each flag, RIVMC staff will be solely responsible for the placing of flags on cemetery grounds.

180 R.I. Code R. 180-RICR-20-00-1.6

Amended effective 2/2/2021