Recently, a young life was taken from us. The young man was going to a high school prom when his car was involved in an accident with a truck. It is such a sad loss of a young life.

I drive past the spot where the accident occurred and it looks like a junkyard with flags, crosses, automobile seats and numerous other memorabilia that represent the friendship or thoughts of others. Although I did not have the pleasure of knowing this individual, he appeared to be an up-and-coming individual with everything to live for in friendships and community involvement. My heart goes out to his family and friends.

Most of us have lost close family or friends, young and old. It takes years to realize that life goes on and only we can carry the torch for our lost. However, isn’t there a proper place to pay our respects to those who have passed? Most of us recognize a memorial at a cemetery, some who have been cremated choose hallowed ground to have their ashes spread or just an urn placed in a area of remembrance.

I question the intent of roadside crosses; it may have been where an accident occurred but it certainly is not where the person is buried. I fear that, if there weren’t laws prohibiting it, in this society we would have bodies buried everywhere and anywhere, even urns at traffic lights. If I died of a heart attack tomorrow in an elevator, I certainly would not want nor expect my family or friends to place a cross outside or inside the elevator to indicate I had died there.

Isn’t it time that we realize that there is a time and place for everything? Placing memorials in a proper place of respect and not making a mockery of their death by roadside remembrance would seem to be a common courtesy to all.

Frank Gray

Old Orchard Beach