SECTION 71.11. Monuments

(a) Monuments and inscriptions are subject to the approval and regulation of the Committee.

(b) All monument designs shall be submitted to the Cemetery superintendent for review and compliance with the requirements set forth by the Committee. Incomplete submissions will be returned.

(c) The Committee specifically reserves the right to reject any monument design, if, in the opinion of the Committee, the quality or craftsmanship of the monument design is not suitable, blocks the view of surrounding monuments, is not in keeping with the dignity and respect of the Cemetery, or does not comply with the following guidelines:

(1) Only selected natural stone from established quarries, or bronze meeting the specifications of the United States Bureau of Standards should be used for monuments. In all cases, craftsmanship should be of superior quality.

(2) Curbs, fences, borders, benches, plantings or enclosures around any burial spaces must be approved by the Committee.

(3) Monuments and inscriptions on any monument shall be accurate and in keeping with the respect and dignity for the interred and for the Cemetery as a place of honor and to memorialize noteworthy Texans.

(4) Photographs or electronic devices on any monument shall be prohibited.

(5) Temporary markers of wood or concrete are prohibited. Temporary metal markers provided by funeral homes are permitted until replaced by a permanent monument. Permanent monuments, including gravesite markers, must be placed at future burial sites no later than two (2) years following the date of interment or, in the case of an existing burial site, no later than one (1) year following the effective date of this rule. Permanent gravesite markers are solely the responsibility of the decedent's estate or family. Appeals for a time extension may be considered by the Committee.

(6) Monuments shall be constructed within the following dimensional specifications:

(A) Maximum height: 6 feet or 72 inches.

(B) Maximum width: 7 feet or 84 inches.

(C) Maximum depth: 20 inches.

(D) A flush installed ledger stone shall not exceed 7 feet in depth and 3.5 feet in width.

(E) All monuments including any obelisk or nonstandard monuments are subject to the approval of the Committee based on location, size, and quality of craftsmanship.

(F) Single plot monuments shall be reviewed by the Committee on a case-by-case basis and will be subject to approval based on location, size, and quality of craftsmanship.

(7) The Committee may also evaluate any proposal for a new monument to ensure that the proposed design does not detract or otherwise impact the prominence of the Medal of Honor monument.

(8) Commemorative monuments dedicated to the military or specific historical or cultural events may be exempt from the dimensional specifications of this section.

(d) Aboveground vaults, crypts and mausoleums are prohibited, except for interment in the Columbarium Wall.

(e) Monuments are the property of the State of Texas.

Source Note: The provisions of this §71.11 adopted to be effective November 26, 1998, 23 TexReg 11795; amended to be effective July 27, 2000, 25 TexReg 6977; amended to be effective October 3, 2007, 32 TexReg 6781; amended to be effective January 7, 2009, 34 TexReg 46; amended to be effective July 8 2010, 35 TexReg 5817; amended to be effective May 20, 2013, 38 TexReg 2997