Commemorative roadside memorials, yes - I have recorded over a thousand. Commemorative benches, yes – becoming much more evident.
R.I.P. t-shirts I learnt of earlier this year from Dr. Kami Fletcher’s interview on the Death Studies Podcast (21:20) . I saw a video clip of a funeral in Carlow earlier this year and noted that t-shirts of the deceased had arrived in Ireland.
But a sticker – not until today – and it was by chance and curiosity.
I have been photographing many stickers on display in the public realm – but do not have any image of a Commemoration Sticker.
A web search for ‘Commemoration Stickers’ will confirm that they are a thing. ‘In Memory Decals’ similarly throws up lots of options. I did not know one could purchase Craig Breen Memorial Stickers Vinyl decal with proceeds going to the Irish Motorsport Benevolent Fund. Proceeds from Manus Kelly Memorial Sticker go towards Donegal Downs Syndrome.
Stuck in traffic on Summerhill this afternoon, I noted that a pedestrian stopped in his tracks and went to look at something in/on a car rear window. That was enough of a prompt for the direction of the route for the dog walk this evening.
It was then that I learnt of Mathew Troy, who died earlier this year. He was a Boston Firefighter – and 10 was the number on his fire hat, which I understand to be his Engine Company. Aged 30, he was diagnosed with Stage 4 Liver Cancer. He died aged 32. Occupational Cancer.
Tonight’s viewing has been on Firefighter Cancer – a term also new to me. BURNED: Protecting Our Protectors is well worth a half-hour of your time.
Today, I learnt something new but know that there is much more to learn.
Why there is an In Memory Decal for Mat Troy, I do not know.
Why there is a sticker on a 152-C car that was parked on Summerhill, I definitely do not know.