The Memorialist: Memorializing Your Family: The Monument Ledger

“Reprinted with permission from the Author”
Author: Burton Fletcher
Publication Date: 2005-06-06

It is common to see a slab or “ledger” in front of graves. Often, very little thought is given to the opportunity to memorialize the life of the deceased and their family as part of the grieving process.

A rounded or tapered edge often improves the appearance of the ledger. Commonly, the sides of a ledger are balance rock pitched (chipped), though I like sawn edges better. Even better, I like a polished margin around the top edge of the ledger.

If the ledger and the base of the monument are going to butt together, then both the base and the ledger will be sewn on the side where they will touch. A sawn edge is smoother than a rock pitched edge that is sculpted with a chisel and hammer to create a rough appearance. If the balanced rock pitch style is used on all four sides of the base, or the ledger, the two parts will not fit tightly together, allowing for an imperfect look that allows grass to grow in between the base of the memorial and the ledger.

Photographs, military symbols, handprints, Masonic emblems, Bible verses, and the like may be engraved into the ledger. You are only limited by the size of the ledger, the size of the lettering, your imagination, and your pocketbook.

One memorial that I saw recently had ledger engravings of the handprints of two young children who had lost their father at an early age. This was a touching idea that involved the children in the memorialization of their father and forever captured the youth of the children, at the time of their father’s passing.

Normally, 1-½ to 2- inch letters is the minimum size lettering for a monument base. If a bronze overlay is used over the ledger, then smaller lettering can be used. Bronze creates a beautiful memorial for your loved one. I especially like a raised portrait in bronze.

Burton Fletcher, with over 20 years business experience, owns AAA-Memorials.com, MonumentsAndAccessories.com, and ValdostaMemorials.com. He is a licensed memorialist in Georgia and Florida and is the founder and president of Georgia Monument Builders Association (www.GAMonumentBuilders.com). He enjoys genealogy and studying Southern monuments. Reach Burton at 229.245.8858, 888-9Statue, 888.978.2883, or Burton@ValdostaMemorials.com for all your monument needs. © Burton Fletcher 2005 All Rights Reserved