by Cheryl Burgmeier, Stevensville
I received this from the past Chairman of the American Legion of Montana and thought it is very important information for everyone and explains how and why these little white crosses appear:
Our American Legion Highway Safety Program and Fatality Marker Program receives referrals from family members, Mothers Against Drunk Driving, DUI Victims and law enforcement. A highway commissioner recognized this program as “one of the finest projects I have ever seen undertaken by an organization. Motorists seeing the crosses should be impressed by the need for careful driving and safe speeds.”
In answer to a few of your concerns please note, Montana Highway Patrol and law enforcement provide us with a fatality crash report which contains the date, the number of victims, the highway location and GPS. Specific information concerning the crash is not provided. Respecting individual privacy, MHP does not provide us with a name, address, phone number or names of family members or circumstances surrounding a crash. Therefore, the American Legion has no way to knowing who or how to contact family members.
In 1952, following the deaths of six young people in the Missoula area on Labor Day weekend, members of the American Legion presented a highway safety program to Governor Arnson and his staff. Placement of a White Cross at the site of a fatal traffic crash, unless opposed by the family of the deceased, is included in the program. It was in 2007 the name of the program was changed from the White Cross to the Fatality Marker Program. Our program continues to enjoy the endorsement of State officials.
Our American Legion Fatality Marker Program has operated under policies and procedures that have been in place for many years. Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) has a written policy which states “Only one support post per fatality location is allowed. In the event of multiple fatalities at the same accident scene, multiple white markers may be used on a single support post.” We have numerous installations throughout the area which require placement of multiple Fatality Markers mounted on a single support post. Our Markers are indicators of a possible hazard which resulted in a fatality. They do not assign blame.
Our Fatality Markers are installed as part of The American Legion Highway Safety Program, they are not individual memorials, they remain property of the American Legion and may be removed at the request of the victim’s family. As a solution to your objection or complaint, I will arrange for the removal of the double Fatality Marker.
The American Legion is comprised of war veterans of all ages and nationalities. Those of us who participate in this program volunteer our time, energy, and finances in support of our communities. Personally, I have been involved in the Fatality Marker program for 15 years, spending hours and dollars securing materials, traveling, assembling, painting, installing and annually maintaining Markers throughout the state.
Written by Jim Kelly and reprinted with his permission.