Roadside Memorials (3) 2015

for Memorial Day,  a brief tribute to the three roadside memorials closest to us.   RIP

#1 is on "S" just a few hundred yards east of "SS."   In memory of Edward  Connel (aka One Eyed Ed),  this memorial was created by two of Ed's children (& myself), and has been haphazardly maintained and added to since.  It consists of a picture of him,  assorted plants,  both live and plastic,  as well as plastic flowers.  For awhile there was a solarpowdered lamp there,  presumably removed when it stopped working.  There are an assortment of beer cans (empty), presumably there to honor Ed's love of the beverage.  My understanding is his close to mortal wounds when he left his moror- cycle at the site may have been due to drinking.  He died in a hospital,   RIP,   Ed.

#2  is on Highway 25 and FF,  northwest corner.   In memory of Tory Kahl,  2 crosses, one tall and one short,  with a copy of the well known poem, "The Broken Chain"  attached to the taller one;   as well as a gothic cross,  a couple of small toy motorcyles and a little angel doll figure.  Usually there is a baseball cap hanging on one side of the tall cross.  And then there is a succession of plastic flower strands,  ballons,  and right now a plastic valentine wreath ornament --  added in the last few days appended to the tall cross.  My intention has been to try and find more information about  Tory's passing,  and I do intend to add that if and when. 

#3 is also on Highway 25, at 1040th Ave., northeast corner.  In memory of Mike Nordin and Jen, there are two white crosses with the different names on each,  Mike's  provides his birth and death years:  1974 -  2004.  This is the simplist site,  and seemingly seldom visited.  There have been decorations in the past,  but there are none at the present time.  Again,  my intention is to find out more about Mike and Jen if I can,  and perhaps add it here.

(Pictures of these memorials would be appropriate,  and I may luck out and get some shot and posted.  I've spoken to a couple of photographers about this.)

My interest in roadside memorials began years ago in Europe where they are far more common.
Sometimes constructed and maintained as small religious shrines,  sometimes with Jesus, the Virgin Mary or another religious saint included.  Some are almost like little grottos,  and often landscaped and planted with meticulous care;  some even with little benches included.  How do we celebrate the dead,  how in this day and age, an "age of discontinuity,"  are we to honor those who have passed along?