Over the past few years, I have noticed a trend in my area that has me wondering if it is something local, or if it is getting popular in other areas. Every day I get behind a vehicle with letters on the back window saying "In Loving Memory of __insert name here__". I've even seen some with two or three different ones on the window. I remember seeing one or two a couple of years ago, but lately, I see this several times a day.
It is really popular in the Hispanic community around here. Seems kinda tacky after a year or so has passed.
We had a young policeman get ambushed and killed a few years back. (My band was involved in one of the benefits for his wife and children which may be why I'm hyper aware.) I've seen lots of those stickers on the back windows of cars memorializing him. They also seem to be popular with the families of fallen soldiers.
here in maryland we have had a large amount of deaths do to drunk driving and i notice some of the ages and a lot are teenagers (not saying that most are young kids but there are a lot of underage drunk driving deaths) you dont see as many crosses on the side of road anymore, figured maybe they went the decal route.
I see the same thing here. Every other day I get behind someone who has one of those "In Loving memory.." decals on their back window. I'm really not sure why all of the sudden that sort of thing seems to be everywhere. I don't think that it has anything to do with any specific one person per se, but rather just a little personal tribute to a lost family member etc etc
I hope I'm never memorialized on a car or truck window. Or on the side of a road, should I meet my end in such a place. I'd rather just be remembered in the hearts and minds of friends and loved ones. But... people do grieve in different ways and I respect that.
my worst fear would be for me to die before my brother... he's one of those NJ sort of pseudo rednecks... I could see my little "In Loving Memory of Relic.." tributes on the back of his pick up truck window right next to the "Dale Earnhardt #3 sticker.."
It's actually been reported in the news as a growing trend in certain communities. Especially among blacks and Latinos in urban neighborhoods that see a lot of shooting, there are so many dead every week that memorializing them has become a big part of the daily culture. There was a 60 Minutes report a couple years ago about one city where there are T-shirt stands that custom-print memorial T-shirts, and that's all they do, and business is booming. They have long lines of customers for these shirts. It's gotten so busy that instead of just waiting for someone to come in with a picture of a fallen friend/family member wanting a custom design, now the T-shirt guys listen to the police scanners and they have scouts hanging out around the major emergency rooms and news desks. So they hear who died from a gunshot wound within minutes or hours of it happening, and they print the shirts up right away, ready to sell when the bereaved come around. Apparently this has been very successful for them! So yeah, car decals and paint are also popular, but they cost more than a T-shirt, and it's harder to change them out weekly for each new dead homie, son, daughter, etc.....
Around here, its usually in loving memory of people who have been killed in gang violence or the crossfire.
Slight sidebar - I posted in this thread and no one jumped in my case or gave me any sheeeee-ite. That's a first for today. Thanks guys! Back to the topic...
With my luck, some of my friends would probably memorialize me in this new way, on the back of a rusted out 59 Rambler station wagon.
You were doing great until you posted this thinly veiled remark designed for us to look at your post and comment on it. No it will be promptly ignored. Good job champ. Just kidding!! Stay in school!! <- designed to piss off Phalex
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