How many things can you think of that are either round or represented as
round objects? The earth is, for one.
Kelly Cemetery, Alabama
I toured the Kelly Cemetery, in memory of Gilder Kelly, on January 25, 2005. The cemetery
is located in Eldridge, Alabama, and it was on my route from Valdosta, Georgia to an
annual convention held by the Monument Builders of North America in Memphis, Tennessee.
I drove the route after my airline flight was canceled, and, yes, I drove through the ice
storm in Atlanta, on the night of January 24, 2005. I was bogged down in traffic for
hours, until finally spending the night in a church parking lot, in a not so safe part of
town, before heading west out of Atlanta, through Alabama, Mississippi, and eventually
reaching Memphis, Tennessee.
The Kendrick Memorial caught my eye as I was on route to the convention. I immediately
noticed the ball or spherical-shaped monument on a small hill. I thought it was
interesting, so I took a few photographs as part of my pictorial travel log, as
photography of monuments is one of my hobbies.
The Kenneth L. Kendrick Memorial
The Kendrick Memorial honors Kenneth L. Kendrick, b. August 15, 1949, d. September 12,
1992. The epitaph circles the center of the sphere, stating, “We have come full
circle and together we continue to travel to a far away city called eternity.” The
ball is balanced delicately on the base. Though not shown in the photograph, the carving
and lettering is too shallow to suit me and somewhat difficult to read.
I do not like this monument because of its memorialization, which is minimal, or the
epitaph, while perhaps comforting to the grieving family, tells us nothing about why this
young man was struck down at a mere 43 years and 28 days.
Everyone Has A Story, And The Memorial Should Tell That Story
I’ll bet there is a story there somewhere. Everyone has a story. Too bad Mr.
Kendrick’s story was not told as part of his memorialization.
What I do like about this memorial is the beauty of the monument. It sits atop the hill
with the American flag waiving in the background, and it is the only monument in the
cemetery with that shape. We have all seen too many monuments with the over used
serpentine top.
I can appreciate the beauty of a work of art as well as anyone. For my money, a simpler
memorial with memorialization would have been better than a work of art without it.
Short Flag Poles Work Best In Cemeteries
I like the short flag pole with the American flag in the background. I would like to see
more flags in the cemeteries as they are colorful, eye-catching, and patriotic. Short flag
poles suit me best, no taller than 25 feet, with 20 feet, or shorter, preferred for my
tastes. Tall flag poles overpower while shorter flag poles are within the visual frame of
my mind’s eye.
Professional Expertise and Storytelling Achieve Harmony in Design and are a part of
Memorialization
Memorials need harmony, thoroughness, and the expertise of a skilled professional
throughout the process. Memorialize your loved ones by telling their life story as part of
the process of memorialization. After all, it is the right thing to do!
How many things can you think of that are either round or represented as
round objects? The earth is, for one.