Memorials
Springfield, Illinois

Some states have taken to formalizing the memorials, allowing friends and family to have special markers erected. It is done because setting up impromptu markers along busy highways can be dangerous and invite further tragedy.

Another reason is that such memorials interfere with the routine mowing and maintenance of rights-of-way and have the potential to damage equipment and even injure workers. Yet, there is evidence that many highway workers treat these memorials with care, leaving them intact and mowing around them.

But, such bureaucratization of death seems to defeat the purpose and destroy the beauty and poignancy of the hand crafted memorials. It is the personalized touches that make these memorials so beautiful and so moving – stuffed animals, notes from loved ones, a hat, a childhood toy.

In fact, even when official markers are placed at accident sites, it often does not deter persons from adding their own personal touches to the memorials – decorating posts and signs with mementos, messages and flowers.