Do most of the cemeteries in your area have guidelines on how the base is set/poured? Local spot where our shells will reside requires (can't remember exact specs) a deep and wide base poured and set prior to the stone being added. This is a little newer ruling, as there were several stones set in the 1950s that didn't get but some gravel for a base, and the township has spent quite a bit of money the past couple years having many stones raised, leveled and firmed up. Some were awfully sunken and tippy. Newer cemetery in the closest bigger town requires the flat bronze plaques, but never specified a solid poured base, so many of those plaques are becoming buried below grade and totally unreadable. Sad deal.