Friday 19 June 2015

Roadside Memorials = death, not Celebrations of Life

We were on our way to the city to view the Alex Colville exhibit.
Drive carefully out there, peeps, somebody out there loves you or your victim.

These are so sad, these and ghost bikes. Some are tacky, too. When they are neglected and flowers or wreaths turn brown.
This one features a flag, soccer and/or rugby shoes, as well as beer cans. It's outside Car Canada on Old Highway #16, and the area has been groomed. There is no last name, just a first name: Ethan, with a pen, and love notes from friends and wannabe girlfriends. People have signed the cross, made of 6 x 6s.

Please, people, celebrate their lives where they lived, not where they died. This is a testament to a mistake(s). It wouldn't be allowed in some cemetery, where they have protocols about displays.

6 comments:

eileeninmd said...

The roadside memorials are really sad, even more knowing that a lot of them were young people. I love your header image. Have a happy Friday and weekend ahead!

Laureen said...

Jenn, this was one of Brian's few dislikes. Why would you want to memorialize a place of tragedy. We have many roadside markers around our area.

William Kendall said...

I find over time they become increasingly garish.

Nancy J said...

I totally agree, but for the young friends left ,maybe this is the only way they can accept death. Possibly a small cross and some flowers, for a week, then move it to their own yard, and remember friends where they lived, not where they died.

Yamini MacLean said...

Hari OM
...beer cans and soccer boots? Testament to cause of death one wonders??? This whole public display of of emotion has become 'trendy' and buys into the prolongation of 'see how we grieve'... tasteless and psychologically unsound. (...which looks harsh, printed in black and white, but remains here regardless; like the subject it rails against!) YAM xx

Red said...

Some of these memorials are over the top. A wreath for a short time but after that there are other ways to set up a memorial.