Flowers

• Flowers are commonly placed on headstones. Cemeteries often require flowers to be placed in specific types of vases; employees usually remove the flowers once they've faded. Flowers are a simple way to mark special anniversaries when relatives and friends visit the grave.
  
  

Flags

• Flags can show the deceased's membership in a group, ethnicity or citizenship. Care should be taken to make sure flags don't become so weathered that they fray — this is considered a mark of disrespect to the flag.
  
  

Photos

• Photos of loved ones are a way of keeping the memory of the deceased as a part of life. Placing photos of children as they grow older or family gatherings on the headstone is a way of actively remembering the deceased. Care should be taken to use weatherproof and weighted frames to prevent the photos from being destroyed. Headstones may be designed with photo slots as well.
  
  

Ornaments

• Stuffed animals, homemade crafts and personal items are all examples of ornaments that may be left on a headstone. Some cemeteries prohibit such ornaments; in other cemeteries, theft may be a problem. It's prudent to pick ornaments that can withstand the elements, or the grave may begin to take on a cluttered and messy appearance.