Community Chat

[brii]

Incredible stores. I didn't know that about the roadside memorials.

[~k~]

Almost 20 years ago, my son was in a fatal auto accident 1 mile from our home. We were a small community & he had lived there all of his short life. Memorials started appearing at the site of the crash & I became deeply distraught everytime I had to go by there. My thought, as his mother, was I did not want to memorialize the site of his death. I needed to honor his life and I got the word out to stop the placements and & make those contributions in other ways that would benefit others. I never need to be at the site of his death, ever. I have since moved from there.

[Pippy_1]

On 1/8/2015 ~k~ said: Almost 20 years ago, my son was in a fatal auto accident 1 mile from our home. We were a small community & he had lived there all of his short life. Memorials started appearing at the site of the crash & I became deeply distraught everytime I had to go by there. My thought, as his mother, was I did not want to memorialize the site of his death. I needed to honor his life and I got the word out to stop the placements and & make those contributions in other ways that would benefit others. I never need to be at the site of his death, ever. I have since moved from there.

That's exactly the way I feel.

[occasionalrain]

I think it's disheartening that some find the expressions of sympathy, no matter how ugly, dirty, or a mess to clean, are cause for complaint. I'd find them a cause for gratitude.That people care should be what matters.

There are some long time, small, roadside memorials that I pass by weekly, a couple everyday. One has a picture of a young man along with his name another has a symbol and a light that has remained lit for over a year. Some believe that an essence of the person remains where they died, maybe it does.

[madzonie]

On 1/8/2015 ~k~ said: Almost 20 years ago, my son was in a fatal auto accident 1 mile from our home. We were a small community & he had lived there all of his short life. Memorials started appearing at the site of the crash & I became deeply distraught everytime I had to go by there. My thought, as his mother, was I did not want to memorialize the site of his death. I needed to honor his life and I got the word out to stop the placements and & make those contributions in other ways that would benefit others. I never need to be at the site of his death, ever. I have since moved from there.

~k~ - I'm so sorry for your loss.

And I TOTALLY agree with what you have written. The gestures may be kind and made with good will intended, but I imagine many don't stop and think about those closest to the person who was lost, and how they might feel having to see a reminder of the tragedy.

[Kellean]

I find those public tributes so beautiful and meaningful! I think those whose lives are so celebrated with public meaning and celebration are blessed with people who loved them, and want that to have meaning.

[Kellean]

I find those public tributes so beautiful and meaningful! I think those whose lives are so celebrated with public meaning and celebration are blessed with people who loved them, and want that to have meaning.

[sylviahomeatlast]

There is an ""altar"" at LaVeta Pass in southern CO. it has been there for years. At a pullover by the highway.

[Pook]

I don't really understand this. I guess it's because I am such a private person and think someone's grief should be a private thing and not a spectacle. While some may be well meaning in their intentions the family should be asked how they feel about such things. A better way would be to have a memorial fundraiser for charity in the person's name later. The rest seems just a waste of money. When there is a tragic event and people who didn't even know the deceased show up (some only for the cameras) - well I would never think to insinuate myself on the family and their tragedy. It may be touching to watch for some but how awful it must be for the family to relive it over and over with these memorials. A local girl was murdered and there were these types of memorials and flowers and stuffed animals etc and the family was criticized because they refused to make an appearance. Instead they asked that money be donated to their daughter's favorite cause and for their privacy and no one heeded their request. The cameras and strangers all came anyway!

[Kachina624]

The roadside memorials are part of the Hispanic culture in New Mexico, especially in the Northern part of the state where many people are descendants of Spanish (not Mexican) settlers.