An observation to the roadside memorial post - writing on car windows

[Rock'n Robin]

This reminds me of about 10 years ago. A teenager in East Toledo got killed in an accident. His last name was Zunk. His friends took to spray painting "ZUNK LIVES!" wherever they could find a surface--overpasses, curbs, sidewalks. I used to drive through that area each day and it got to be almost a joke. It was to the point that last year a student with that last name graduated and another teacher whispered "zunk lives!" and had several of us giggling.
I think roadside memorials are OK, but when they start to look ratty and old and no one pays attention anymore I wish someone would take responsibility and take it down. It's almost an insult to the deceased when the memorial is frayed ribbons and faded writing you can't even see anymore.
Robin M.

 

[Mom2Angels]

You didn't offend me! The way I have mine worded, no one knows it is a memorial but me, cause you can't see my angels names unless you are standing right next to the car, now you can see the "Angels are watching over us" with no problem if your driving next to my car.

I know two teenagers were killed in a car accident here last month and a bunch of kids that went to school with them used the shoe polish stuff as a temporary memorial. The father of the girl killed is now changing the name of his Restaurant so I guess that is going to be a permanent memorial.

Originally posted by Hillbeans
I'm sorry I didn't mean to offend you or anyone else with this...it was more for the large painted on words in shoepolish that I had wondered about.

 

[spagheddie]

Originally posted by goofygirl
Me too. Definitely an "urban thing."

I see them as much in "suburban" areas like Cherry Hill as I do in the city. My wife and I just had a discussion about this when we saw an SUV with one. We both feel that they're tacky and that the person is screaming for attention.

OK, we know someone you cared about has died. What would you like the rest of us to do?

 

[nuke]

I always thought they were gang symbols too but my MIL has it on her back window. It's not my cup of tea but whatever floats your boat.

 

[CindysGusGus]

The sticker decals are here but I have never seen anythjing done with shoe polish.

 

[arminnie]

I've just thought of a new product - customized bumper stickers honoring the deceased - pass them out at the wake and funeral.

Somebody is bound to think that I am serious so let me state that I am kidding.

 

[Poohbear123]

Its quite Popular to have a "t-shirt" made with the Dead Persons Picture and all on it. They are made up before the person is IN the ground, and this is what they wear to the Funeral. Also, we have small roadside markers along I-95 and the other busy streets, with "Drive Safely" and the persons name and date of birth and death....yes, I live in a very morbid city. I have recently seen the car things too.

 

[Breezy_Carol]

Originally posted by goofygirl
Me too. Definitely an "urban thing."

I am in a rural area and we have them.

We have had quite a few young people (16 - 18 year olds) die in accidents. What bothers me is when I see one of them memorialized on the back of another teen's car which is being driven in an unsafe manner. Didn't these kids learn anything from their friend's death??

 

[Cindy B]

Originally posted by Poohbear123
Its quite Popular to have a "t-shirt" made with the Dead Persons Picture and all on it. They are made up before the person is IN the ground, and this is what they wear to the Funeral. Also, we have small roadside markers along I-95 and the other busy streets, with "Drive Safely" and the persons name and date of birth and death....yes, I live in a very morbid city. I have recently seen the car things too.

Its popular in Philly to see the airbrushed Tshirts with the deceased on it. Usually its a child, and the airbrushing around it says, sister or beloved, and on the back sunrise/sunset... with the dates.

 

[monarchsfan16]

The kids who are now graduating from my school have t-shirts with the slogan PR-14, and a pic of a boy who was a member of their class who lost his battle with leukemia as a sophomore. I believe we even have a PR-14 flag flying over our track. These were made up when it was obvious that he wouldnt make it, in support of their classmate. I still see them all over school 2 years later.
As for the window thing that's creepy. Around here the only stuff on windows has to do with sports teams.

 

[TheOtherVillainess]

I guess they just don't do this sort of thing in Texas, as I've never seen it before. Seen lots of cars with the owner's name done up in rather tacky fashion on the back. Seen lots of shoepolished "Fox In the Box" on the windshield with a box around the driver's side part of the windshield. Lots of "Free Butter" and "We Love You Butter' and that sort of thing was seen around my hometown during Christmas of my jr year when a popular football player (whose nickname was "Butter") got sent to jail on account of he went postal and shot his father.


TOV