July 14, 2011

M is for Metal Memorial

There are many roadside memorials in the Balkan region. I spotted this metal cross on a meander in Bucharest, but I found more of them in the countryside than in urban centers.

Bucharest, 2011

This is a mournful memorial for a mother (31) and child (6) who I'd surmise met a mortal motor car mishap together on this spot on November 20, 2005. 



Memorials like this make me pause and reflect how fragile and unpredictable life is. And reminds me to carpe diem. 

I've seen them in other regions of the world, too. Do you see any in your neighborhood? 

In recent years, these kinds of public shrines are meeting a measure of opposition and have sparked mainstream media debates. Want to share your musing on this matter?

M is the letter at Alphabe-Thursday. Many more M mentions may be found there.

They are also placed as a warning sign for drivers to stay alert and drive carefully. So I join Signs, Signs, too.

27 comments:

Anonymous said...

I appreciate impromptu roadside memorials like this.

VioletSky-Sightlines said...

Our roadside memorials are not nearly so elaborate - or permanent. Usually just a cross with a bouquet of flowers (mostly fake).

EG CameraGirl said...

Actually, I NEVER used to see roadside memorials but now I see them along many Ontario roads. I fear that Ontario drivers are not as polite and/or careful as they once were...plus they are always in a hurry.

Luna Miranda said...

this is interesting. i haven't seen any roadside memorials around here. we should have them, both as a memorial and reminded, especially to motorcycle riders.

P.S. you should try orange camotes.:p

Andy said...

Road memorial sings are not uncommon along the roadsides of Canada. Unfortunately most of the time the reason for the death is not explained. Sometimes it's the person's own fault and other times it's caused by forces beyond their control.

RedPat said...

As others have said above we have them in Ontario but they are usually just some fake flowers and maybe a cross. It is always a sobering sight.

Lesley said...

I actually find them to be a bit more distracting than acting "as a warning sign for drivers to stay alert and drive carefully".
My car once broke down on hwy 400 and every time I pass that spot, I remember it and my stomach tightens in memory. I'm not sure how I'd feel about having a memorial to my loved one who died (crashed) on that spot.

genie said...

I am seeing more and more of the roadside memorials here in Rockbridge County. Some are just simple white crosses, some are state made larger sign markers with name and dates, and then there are the one-of-a-kind ones that pop up on the smaller roads. It really does make one think about the dangers ahead. Nice pictures of a sad image.Genie

Pat said...

In our travels I found that the memorial crosses vary from state to state. Some states seem to have state-issued crosses as they are all the same looking. In either case, they still give me pause and make me wonder about the person who died there.

Oakland Daily Photo said...

What a sad thing to be associated with. I wonder if they give comfort to the families of victims.

Kay L. Davies said...

I've seen quite a few of these in Canada, and a lot more in Mexico. They do make me think about my driving, but I also think of the bereaved families who put them there.
— K

Kay, Alberta, Canada
An Unfittie's Guide to Adventurous Travel

Kiddothings said...

Interesting. I've never seen such memorials in my country - but then again Malaysia being a muslim country, I'm not surprised. Yes seeing these would truly make you think "carpe diem".

~✽Mumsy✽~ said...

I saw signs like this around, but didn't pay attention if they were metal. It does remind me to be careful and appreciate life more.

jabblog said...

We have floral memorials at various roadside locations of fatal crashes in UK. Some of them have been attended to for years, with dead flowers being replaced with fresh tributes at regular intervals. I find them sobering and a useful reminder that life is fleeting and cars are dangerous weapons.

Vicki/Jake said...

I see them along roadsides in Utah also. The state had quite a controversy last year over memorial crosses to honor fallen Highway Patrol Troopers. Because they were crosses and on state property..blah blah blah.. someone had to raise a stink about it. I think it's been resolved and the crosses will remain where they are. Thanks for showing another version of something I see as awesome...

Unknown said...

I always drive more carefully when I come across these.

Judie said...

It's a lot fancier than the artificial flowers and wooden crosses one sees along roadways here. So sad!

Sallie (FullTime-Life) said...

That is more lovely than the crosses and artificial flowers that we usually see. I have mixed feelings about these (when used to memorialize people killed in traffic accidents)....maybe they remind people to slow down and drive carefully. But they sometimes make me sad and depressed. Especially in parts of Texas and New Mexico where it seemed like there would be oneevery few feet. I wanted there to be something more positive done to keep accidents from happening.

Kala said...

I agree that seeing a memorial like this makes you want to seize the moment and appreciate life even more.

People Who Know Me Would Say: said...

Here on the east coast of the states, we have them everywhere. When more than one person dies in a car accident, they put a cross up for each individual.

Life is fleeting. We all just need to SLOW DOWN.

Halcyon said...

A sad reminder.

NatureGirl said...

I always love your pix...you show us little glimpses into life that we might otherwise miss...

Kaori said...

I see flowers on a street corner sometimes when there's been an accident but I've never seen a memorial. I don't think you're allowed to make memorials on public streets here. But it does make me reflect...so sad to see.

Unknown said...

Here there are more flower memorials -yes, you are so right Francesca -seize the day!

Unknown said...

I think I've never seen anything of the kind. So sad.

Jenny said...

People put up memorials like this all along our highways and streets.

I've always told my husband I'd like to travel the state taking poignant pictures of these and call the book "Cross Roads" but I figured no-one would want to buy it...too depressing.

It was fascinating to me to see this is not just an Arizona custom. I've not seen it in other US States to date...how neat where we both live is home to this type of remembrance.

Thanks for a thoughtful link this week.

A+

Ann, Chen Jie Xue 陈洁雪 said...

In NZ, they have white wooden cross with flowers. Once we were traveling a stretch of highway, we counted more than 13 crosses.

Recently, when I did the Round the bays, some one tied a bicycle to a light pole with flowers. Then I remember how a famous cyclist was killed.