“Killed by a Line Drive” made me wonder, should the coaches wear batting helmets? Your call, but I’d put one on.
We sit behind the net. I’ve seen a couple of fans take it in the teeth. Splintered bats careening into the stands. You’re in the game. Keep your eye on the ball.
Today’s challenge for the road crews, Roadside Memorials. Several states have legislation governing roadside memorials and that number has doubled in the last five years.
Location, location, location.
Now people feel that it’s acceptable to publicly display their grief. They have a connection with the location. The memorial fills a personal need, but complicates the highways and byways according to the Department of Transportation.
Some say the memorials were created for you. A safety reminder on your journey.
Effective.
Tina Shockley of the Delaware DOT says their is no research that indicates that roadside memorials cause excessive rubbernecking and a lead to a higher rate of accidents. In Delaware, items cannot be placed in a road’s “clear zone”- 10 feet away from the paved edge or in the right of way. By law, they are illegal. DOT wants to educate the public and does not remove existing memorials.
Niki Reeves continues to maintain a memorial for her teenage son Chad, who was killed with three other teens on a two-lane highway in Delaware several years ago. She doesn’t know how long she’ll maintain the memorial, but says she feels a connection to her son and says, “It’s somewhere I prefer to go rather than a grave. I’m closer to him there.”
Today’s tip for better living: Practice your duck and cover.
Source: American Funeral Director
I read your article regarding roadside memorials on your website with great interest. It was well written and informative.
Your readers would benefit from the knowledge there is an alternative to displaying a roadside memorial on public roads or right of ways. The National Memorial Registry (www.NationalMemorialRegistry.com) is Internet based and offers free of any charge, the opportunity for any individual to dedicate a memorial location to a loved one. With the help of our extensive database of mapping software, a person can dedicate a specific address, site, or location in honor of, or to validate, the life of an individual that has an influence on their lives. Every memorial dedication is displayed on our maps for the world to view.
It is a well known fact that many individuals need to experience the grieving process through the display of a roadside memorial. All too often, local jurisdictions are regulating this practice. Some are limiting the time a memorial can be displayed, others are banning them. Some jurisdictions have regulations regarding the placement of memorials but local enforcement is not done, often by choice to help the grieving family. This same website has a database of information on many of the states, cities, and countries regarding their current and past position, and if available, current legislation regarding the placement of roadside memorials.
The National Memorial Registry is a source for:
– Free online memorial dedications
– Display of memorials on our world wide maps
– State regulations and news regarding public display of memorials
Please let your future readers know about this alternative. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Kindest regards,
Robert Sergent
President/CEO
National Memorial Registry
330 Rayford Road #162
Spring, Texas 77386
Phone: 888-292-4021
Fax: 281-754-4501
Email: rsergent@NationalMemorialRegistry.com