Roadside Memorials
People look at roadside memorials in different ways. Some people feel they?re a dangerous distraction; a pile of things that, except for the ever-present cross, could get someone charged with littering. Other people see the roadside memorial as an important step in the healing process; a way to remember someone lost in a tragic road accident and a way to remind drivers to be cautious.
The tradition started more than a thousand years ago in England as a way to mark the Queen?s funeral procession, but today?s road memorials mark the place of a fatal road accident or sometimes the place where a body was found. ?The growing popularity of roadside memorials may suggest that North Americans are finding less solace in traditional church settings and are instead attempting to express their grief and emotions in a personalized and public way,? says Christie MacLachlan of the online resource, FuneralPlanning101.com.
They are also an immediate reminder of the person who died at the spot and sometimes serves as a way to bring friends and family members closer to the deceased than the sacred spaces of church and cemetery. If anything, roadside memorials are a constant reminder to friends and strangers alike of the fragility of life and the dangers of the road.
Some states have started to regulate the presence of roadside memorials in order to avoid traffic problems. The memorials themselves can pose a danger to motorists and mourners. This was proven in Hawaii when a second automobile accident killed two mourners who had come to a roadside memorial for friends who?d been killed earlier in the week. Depending on the state, it can be illegal to erect a roadside memorial or there may be rules regarding the size or position of the memorial. Some states will erect an official memorial for a small fee.
Maintenance can present another problem with roadside memorials. Some are well maintained on a constant basis by family members and friends who replace worn out decorations or change the memorial to match the season. However, more commonly a roadside memorial is tended to regularly for the first month following an accident but is then left to the mercy of the elements. Debris can be blown onto the roadway causing additional dangers to drivers, and after a few months these memorials are more of an eyesore than an honor.
If you?ve considered erecting a roadside memorial to honor a lost loved one, make sure to first check with state laws to see that your memorial complies with regulations. If it doesn?t, city workers will most likely dismantle your memorial within a day or two. Also, be sure that the monument isn?t an obstruction to drivers and that your presence on the road as you erect it doesn?t cause unnecessary danger to yourself or others. ?Care for your memorial regularly, or remove it after such time has passed that your need to honor your loved one with the memorial has passed,? suggests MacLachlan. ?Once the grieving process is in its later stages, you may find you will benefit from the physical act of removing it from the site.?
Christie MacLachlan is a compassionate authority on funeral planning and grief recovery. She is often found enjoying life to fullest. In her spare time she writes for FuneralPlanning101.com ? An informational source about funeral costs, burial interment, memorials and more.
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