Living Memorial Program

Since 1976, funeral service professionals in the United States have taken great pride in offering bereaved families the Living Memorial® tree planting program. It’s a very special program that provides for the planting of a tree as a tribute to your loved one. Developed by Batesville Casket Company, in agreement with the United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service, the program has been responsible for planting more than 8 million trees and reforesting more than 14,500 acres in the past two decades. It is now the largest private reforestation project in the United States. Since 1976, the Living Memorial program has grown to include forests in Canada, as well as Australia. When families select a Batesville® casket or an Options® cremation product, a tree seedling is planted in a national forest at no additional cost to you. While the tree bears no visible identification, you can take great pride in knowing that you are helping contribute to a major environmental initiative. Your family will receive a special certificate from the agency in charge of that particular tree planting activity in the United States, Canada or Australia. More than just a fitting tribute, this program provides for trees that shelter our wildlife, reduce water and wind erosion and contribute to the purity of the air we breathe. Their existence brings comfort and hope. They will ensure that generations to come will know the beauty of a green planet. What better legacy to leave?