觀
“White Crosses”
Contemplation
They are scattered across Montana, sometimes few and far between or in sudden ominous clusters. A geographical dispersal of 2500 markers which memorialize locations where a fatality has occurred. These are the American Legion Highway White Cross Fatality Program that, since 1953 have “reminded passing motorists of the dangers of the road, as well as the lives that have been lost on these highways”. Montana consistently scores high, ranking 5th (2023) per population in the U.S., with some of the highways such as US 93 (#2 rank) statistically hyper fatal need for speed.
Red tail lights go full alert on the large pickup truck as from one side of the road a dog and another in pursuit come across the road. They appear ahead briefly through the gunracked back window, and then off the other side. Brake off, the truck guns blue smoke as the engine pops.
Occasionally there will be several single crosses within a few miles, maybe along “curvy” roads or outside of small towns and other times isolated and solitary. The logic is “Motorists seeing the crosses should be impressed by the need for careful driving and safe speeds”. The founder Floyd Eaheart who as a member of Hellgate Post #27, proposed the program after 6 lives were lost in that area over the 1952 Labor Day Holiday. If there have been multiple fatalities, the metal post can hold multiple crosses.
Abruptly the second big dog spins around sprinting back onto the highway. No dog appears between the rifles. A brief reflexive tap of the brake as the dog again spins, struck off into the ditch. The truck slows before abruptly roaring away from the town outskirts.
The program became official in 1953 in conjunction with the Montana Highway Commission (now MDT) and with the approval of the Governor’s office. In Greece road fatalities are memorialized in small unique wood constructed churches topped with a white cross. The Montana program is of standardized metal post to which a white cross (or crosses) is affixed.
An approaching car slows to a stop ahead. People, adults and children, from the home, through the yard towards the highway. The dog is trying to get up but the back half is paradoxically flaccid. It’s tongue hangs out sideways as it attempts to crawl from the ditch.
Countless crosses crudely adorned in various ways, perhaps with flowers, a name, a picture or sometimes a stuffed toy. These are seen off the highways, unofficially placed on private properties. In New Mexico the markers are referred to as Descanos which means “Resting Place” and , when placed, they are reported in local news outlets.
The helicopter is hot and entering the last pre lift steps. On the outside the white strobes, red/green nav lights with the bubble and tail red beacons are blinking. This will be a Through the craft com a pilot request and crew confirmation of “secure”. From under the chin the search light rotates up 30 degrees flooding the surrounding dark. EMS and Fire turnouts reflect their positions clear of zone. A final scan as the copter rotors up and lifts. The ComCtr is contacted with time of lift, destination with eta and “3 crew with no transport”. Following the flight path under a full moonlight moondog, the helo 180s above the scene Ahead along the highway, a single road sign strobes white, red, white, red and white cross.
“The wind blows over the earth: the image of contemplation.”