City of San Antonio Road Side Memorials (New Braunfels, West: neighborhood, school)

[LovingSAT]

I am seeing so many road side memorials lately, is there a way to find out who was killed at certain locations or how they were killed? This is very sad.

Also, does anyone know the reason of the memorials? I had heard something about the spirit years ago but not sure exactly.

Thanks

[Dwangle]

It is sad. There is a railroad crossing just down from where I live that has two memorials. I know about them because it was very traumatic when it happened even though I never knew the victims personally. Is this unique to San Antonio ?

[amye1158]

When I lived on Long Island (NY), we would see similar memorials (flowers, crosses, etc.) by the side of the road when there was a casualty from a car accident.

[majormadmax]

Nope, they had them in Florida for 30+ years now, and technically they are illegal but that doesn't seem to stop folks...

[sapphire]

Personally, I think they're creepy and just odd. There was a little boy killed at the intersection just outside of my neighborhood--truly sad, I'm not saying it isn't--but who wants to be reminded of that every day on their way to work, school, wherever? I understand that the family is expressing their grief, but again, I think it's a weird way to do it. And they usually just end up looking very tacky and uncared for after a very short time.

[rd2007]

they should put up big red D's everywhere a drunk has killed someone. That would send a better message.

[BenjaminNicholas]

Originally Posted by sapphire

Personally, I think they're creepy and just odd...

I agree. It's one thing for the living to honor the dead in an acceptable place like a cemetery, but to build a shrine by the side of a road, busy or otherwise, is in bad taste.

Yes, it's incredibly sad that someone died. I can't agree more with that, but to have to pass by, relive the agony or simply know where someone's life was ended is depressing and unneeded. It's the same way I feel about that ridiculous abortion memorial on I35 with the small army of crosses. Thankfully, it's gotten smaller over the past 10 years or so thanks to some political influence from the New Braunfels powers-that-be.



BN

[wCat]

The sad part is some of these memorials are not put up by family members. They may have friends or co workers or classmates ....that put them up. How difficult for the family to go by that location and be reminded. They could take them down, but then what a struggle to make that decision....I'm not so sure I could go rip down a memorial to a family member that others had placed there in their memory...

And no...not unique to SA. I've seen them everywhere we've traveled by car...and that's a lot of places....cities and states. Other countries are another story.

[majormadmax]

There is one on 90 West outside of 410 that says 'Dad' on it...it puts a lump in my stomach every time I pass it.

I agree, these memorials should be at the final resting place, not where the life was lost...

[wellguy]

If I lost someone in an accident I too would hate to be reminded of the site where it happened. At the same time I can understand why people feel a need to have a memorial.
As a person who drives many miles each day I find the memorials very distracting. As stated they are not legal hence TXDOT's plan to have a sign made and have it put up for a year and then taken down and given to the Family, Friend, etc. I read that TXDOT will charge 300 plus dollars for the sign, installation ,and taking it down. Those too are distracting.