Submission Guidelines
MOVA welcomes conversations pertaining to these guidelines as we invest in expanding our lens of survivorship, victimization, trauma, and violence. The experiences of victims and survivors take many forms. We will seek to understand survivor perspectives where there is lack of clarity and use this to inform our review of applications. Contact MOVA at gardenofpeace@mass.gov.
- Because the Garden of Peace is a Massachusetts memorial to victims of homicide:
- The victim's death must have resulted from a crime of homicide committed against them;
- The victim must have a connection to Massachusetts: the victim's place of birth, death, current or former residence, and/or family's residence.
- Each engraving includes the victim's name, date of birth, and date of death.
- All engravings since 2020 have been made on reflection plaques in the Garden. All the stones that do not have an engraving are unable to be engraved due to their porousness.
- For applications made by someone other than an immediate family member (parent, guardian, sibling, grandparent, spouse, child, life partner), it is preferred that immediate family is consulted prior to an application being approved. Even within families, MOVA encourages applicants to communicate with other family members about the application for engraving.
- Donations are warmly accepted on an ongoing basis and are always helpful towards sustaining the Garden of Peace and maintenance costs, but not required for engraving requests. The Garden is charged for engraving and maintenance but waives this fee for applicants.
- Applications are not approved or denied based on a donation; suggested voluntary donation amounts are $25, $75, $100, or $150.
- MOVA will contact you to verify eligibility and engraving information. If you have not heard from us within two weeks, please feel free to call 617-586-1369 or email gardenofpeace@mass.gov to confirm your application has been received.
- Applications may be submitted any time throughout the year, keeping in mind any applications received and verified before July 1st will allow for engraving the same year and read aloud at the Annual Honor Program in September. Any application received and verified after July 1st may be held for engraving the following year and will be read aloud also during the following year.