Oakland Cemetery Memorial Day programming and guidelines for grave decorations

Memorial Day decorations are allowed at Oakland Cemetery, 1000 Brown St. Decorations may be placed on graves beginning Thursday, May 21, 2026. Friends and family members who wish to keep their gravesite decorations after Memorial Day should remove them no later than Sunday, May 31, 2026.

During this period, wreaths and decorations of all kinds may be left at gravesites, with no restrictions on the types of containers or materials used. If flags and emblems are still in place after June 5, Cemetery staff will remove and store them, although they cannot assume responsibility for preservation of these items.

On Monday, June 1, staff will begin disposing of other grave decorations that are typically restricted, and will revert to these standard regulations:

• Only live or dried flowers in plastic or papier-mâché containers may be used.
• Glass or tin containers, toys, boxes, and other decorations that might create a mowing hazard are not allowed.
• Annuals and perennials may be planted adjacent to the stone, if the lot owner and/or family members provide ongoing plant care.

Memorial Day Program

The annual Memorial Day Program is scheduled for Monday, May 25, 2026. Each year, the Johnson County Military Affairs Association and the American Legion Post 17 and Auxiliary organize the memorial event to honor those who fought and died for our nation. A series of ceremonies will be held at 8:30 a.m. at Park Road Bridge, 9:30 a.m. at Oakland Cemetery, and 11 a.m. at Memory Gardens Cemetery.

Oakland Cemetery is the City of Iowa City's public cemetery. For more information, contact Russell Buffington, Cemetery Supervisor, at [email protected] or 319-356-5105.