Understanding Memorialization in Georgia
In Georgia the freedom to choose a memorial type is the law. It is important that you read and understand how our common law got to be so. Common law is essentially unwritten law, a longstanding legal custom passed down from generation to generation. Common law protects the rights and freedoms of all individuals, just like personalizing a memorial for your loved one.
The principle of common law is reflected in some of Georgia’s heritage. In particular, the Stone Mountain area is known for developing quality craftsmanship in stone masonry. Due to this, Georgia has control over details like memorial type. Some ideas of memorial type are traditional upright memorials, slat flush memorials, bronze or bronze-wood memorials, colored granite memorials and sculptural memorials. At the same time, you can customize it with certain symbols or texts. When it comes to family and death, our common law is to honor their wishes.
It is essential to Georgian principles to remember and appreciate the past by celebrating it. That is the former law. Important events like birthdays and holidays are not overridden by law; they are celebrated personally. That is the unwritten law. Law evolves and is passed down through generations. How people live and the choices they make unquestionably comes from how they were raised and the choices of the previous generation. This is true in Georgia. Similarly, Memorialization changes as practices are passed down. Customary changes are still practiced, just like how our law evolves. In other words, memorialization might change, but the past will always shape our thoughts about customization.
In Georgia, memorialization is not just about the past. It is personal as well. The law is that memorialization should reflect the characteristics of the deceased and only the deceased. This means that details like colors, memorial type, and the epitaph should be unique. The only exception is when there are conflicting elements in memorial type. Even so, you can choose the color of the memorial, the type of materials, and the arrangement of the memorial in the cemetery. Ultimately, you should choose what is unique to the deceased.
How do we know this? It is a custom to record the past, no matter how shared or unique. Memories are replaced by photographs. The photographs replace real people. This cues future generations to appreciate the past and reflect on what is personal to them. Looking at photographs helps us appreciate personalities. That is why history is also famous for recordings in places like the great Stone Mountain. The stories we pass down are so secure in our minds that they too are documentary forms. In a way it is traditional documentary history. Naturally, that conventions reach the cemetery.
According to the in depth guide on approach to common law in Georgia, memorialization tells us to remember what is important. Memorials are unique pieces of documentation. They are the only way that people will remember the deceased uniquely. If you want to remember this, all that is left is to find a beautiful monument or memorial. You can start with a photograph and work toward a memorial type. Who will decide? Everyone will have input. Even your memorial dealer will have ideas. Your dealer will understand what the law is and how to relate it to a memorial type. Your memorial dealer is a source of knowledge so that you can express yourself.