Rail Fire closure south of Forest Road 1370 opens Saturday

The placement of and requests for placing private memorials or similar forms of remembrance on the forest continue to rise, but the placement of monuments or memorials on National Forest System lands is prohibited, according to a Forest Service press release.

Monuments or memorials will be removed and disposed of when discovered. In lieu of placing a monument or memorial on public land, the Forest Service asks that you consider honoring the person or event in ways that do not have a lasting impact on the landscape or other visitors’ experiences.

Memorials or other commemorative items left on public land may be a violation of 43 CFR 2990.1-2 Unauthorized Use, or 43 CFR 8365.1-2 Unattended Personal Property

There are alternatives to the placement of a private memorial:

The Forest Service “Plant-A-Tree” Program permits individuals and groups to donate money for the planting of trees on National Forests. The trees may be planted to memorialize loved ones or to commemorate special events such as births, weddings or anniversaries.

For a suggested minimum donation of $10, which pays for 10-15 seedlings, donors receive a certificate acknowledging their gift. If desired, the name of the person in whose honor the donation is made will appear on the certificate. The trees, planted mostly in large plantations, will not be individually identified by donor. Smaller (or larger) donations will be acceptable in most cases.

Donations may be made in person and by mail at all Forest Service offices.

The American Forests group plants memorial trees in national forests in honor of loved ones. Find out more about the Memorial Trees campaign.

The Arbor Day Foundation plants Trees in Memory and Trees in Celebration.

For roadside memorials the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) has a Memorial Signing Program. Persons wishing to sponsor a roadside memorial sign should submit a written request to: State Traffic Engineer; Oregon Department of Transportation; 4040 Fairview Industrial Drive SE; Salem, OR 97302-1142.