News Release

This photo shows some of the decorations at gravesites at Milford Cemetery that are asked to be removed, temporarily, during spring clean-up. The decorations can be replaced after May 1

MILFORD — April is cemetery cleanup month for cemeteries in Van Buren Township.

Those cemeteries are Mount Pleasant, Bowser Road and CR 250E; Salem, CR 900 and CR 200; and Milford Cemetery, CR 60.

Mount Pleasant and Salem are owned and managed by Van Buren Township Trustee’s office. Milford Cemetery is owned and managed by the Milford Cemetery Association.

All decorations not secured on the foundations or headstones will be removed and disposed of by cemetery maintenance personnel after April 15. Any faded or torn decorations will be removed by cemetery maintenance personnel regardless of location on the gravesite.

Therefore, if you have items you want to keep, remove them before April 15. There will be a dumpster at Milford Cemetery located by the tool shed on Roy Auer Drive for disposal of trash. Decorations/trash at township cemeteries must be taken off site. New decorations may be placed after May 1.

Perennial plantings must be maintained by lot owners. Leaf-bearing trees, shrubs and bushes should not be planted. All gravesites must adhere to cemetery rules concerning placement of decorations and plantings. Shepherd hooks are prohibited. Encroaching on another burial space is not permitted.

For the purpose of mowing, gravesites should be clear of anything that would hinder the ability of maintenance crews to mow and trim around foundations. As always, cemeteries should be respected as sacred places of burial and as a cherished reminder of loved ones.

Community groups will be doing trimming around foundations at Milford Cemetery the week before Memorial Day services. Volunteers are welcome. More information will be coming as to date and time.

Questions may be directed to Becky Alles, township trustee, at (574) 658-9686 or Milford Cemetery Association, (574) 453-8676. Copies of rules for all cemeteries can be requested from the Van Buren TWP Trustee’s office, located at 101 S. Main St., Milford, or can be viewed on the town of Milford website, www.milford-indiana.org.