Funeral Procession

[dallas nana]

Extremely long funeral procession on Hwy. 278 with helicopters following. Whose funeral could this be?

[dawneykids]

Extremely long funeral procession on Hwy. 278 with helicopters following. Whose funeral could this be?

No clue. Were people stopping for it? I hope so.

[workingforaliving]

1385411244[/url]' post='3860759']

No clue. Were people stopping for it? I hope so.

 

I hope not everyone. It's a divided highway.

[feelip]

I hope not everyone. It's a divided highway.

 

My motto is "just because he is late doesn't mean I am going to be."

[SusieQ404]

What end of 278? There was a little girl from Austell who died recently. I forget how or why but it was all over the news this past weekend.

[ihaveadog]

My motto is "just because he is late doesn't mean I am going to be."

 

I said something similar once on here, I got blasted for it by the old bitter hags on here.

[feelip]

I said something similar once on here, I got blasted for it by the old bitter hags on here.

 

Yep. They all know I'm just screwing with them. I'm usually the first to pull over.

[dawneykids]

I said something similar once on here, I got blasted for it by the old bitter hags on here.

I'm not bitter, old, nor a hag and I think you should stop for a funeral procession.

 

Yep. They all know I'm just screwing with them. I'm usually the first to pull over.

Your rep is becoming tarnished, you realize that right!! You're a good guy!

[dana]

I'm not bitter, old, nor a hag and I think you should stop for a funeral procession.

 

Nor am I and I agree with you.

[tess]

Nor am I and I agree with you.

I agree...I had a guy trying to pass me when I was pulling over for an ambulance last week

[smy34]

Saw a driver get a ticket in Gainesville, and one in Rome for passing or not stopping. I think there is a Ga. Code for passing a funeral procession....

[workingforaliving]

1385493782[/url]' post='3861085']

Saw a driver get a ticket in Gainesville, and one in Rome for passing or not stopping. I think there is a Ga. Code for passing a funeral procession....

 

I'm sure there is....but does it apply to a 4 lane divided highway?

[jlewi]

I can see not passing if going the same way, but on a divided highway going the opposite direction I don't stop

[eym_sirius]

On a 4-lane highway, there's nothing that precludes a vehicle from passing a procession. They often drive slowly. On a two-lane road, of course not - it would not be safe. It's also not safe for people to pull over on a four lane highway because pulling back on the highway from the shoulder could be dangerous, not to mention that sometimes there is no shoulder.

 

It's the 21st Century! There are seven billion people presently living and frankly there is not sufficient room for people to be laid out longways in suburban cemeteries. It's unreasonable, even inconsiderate to ask every driver to pull over to the side of the road to accomodate the dead guy who could have decided to be cremated and not inconvenience strangers not interested in being a part of the funeral procession/observance.

 

It's an individual decision, though. I have no interest in what other people do in this matter. Conversely, they have no interest in what I do about pulling over, as long as I obey the law. What could be more unrealistic than having expectations of people you don't know and who are unaware of your set of personal expectations for them?

[smy34]

Whatever the law is I am not sure....but I saw an answer one time that related to this...what if this was your mother or grandmother. I feel that the time is worth it...and yes we have billions of folks, but I have the time to pay respect and especially with flags showing a veteran, who defended our freedom...to each his own...if you can live with moving on then do so....

[dawneykids]

Whatever the law is I am not sure....but I saw an answer one time that related to this...what if this was your mother or grandmother. I feel that the time is worth it...and yes we have billions of folks, but I have the time to pay respect and especially with flags showing a veteran, who defended our freedom...to each his own...if you can live with moving on then do so....

[eym_sirius]

To answer the original question, "who could it be?" - It could very well be a grandmother or a veteran -- or it could be a gang leader who had lived a life of crime,along with the members of the procession. If you're grateful to veterans or need to tell grandma that you love her -- make that expression to them while they are alive!

 

 

About funeral processions - Consider that this is an antiquated custom that started when everyone in town knew you. The custom continued as towns grew larger and people, needing to yeild to a lengthy procession, would even get out of their vehicles by the side of the road (not recommended today) to "pay their respects" to the family/extended family of a fellow townsperson. With an ever-burgeoning population, people should consider looking forward and coming up with alternatives to a practice that is unworkable in the long run. Eventually, cremation will be a requirement, due to the need for space, along with possibly paving over cemeteries. Cemetery marketing slogans notwithstanding, there's no such thing as "perpetual care". Therefore another way to look at funeral processions is that the recently deceased did not have the consideration for others to make plans that didn't inconvenience hundreds (or thousands, depending on the length of the processsion and the distance traveled) of people he/she didn't know. This lack of consideration is compounded by being laid out lengthwise in a field, the formaldehyde-based embalming fluid eventually leeching into the soil to contaminate it and do who-knows-what to the groundwater! Worldwide, multiply this scene times 20 billion over the next hundred years and you'll see what I mean about the practices surrounding funerals being antiquated!

[smy34]

eym Sirius, wow you are so positive. I am thankful that tomorrow that I do not have your beliefs. I do respect an opinion. The first thing is major laws would have to be changed, and as you have seen with the airport and the Braves you and I really do not have a choice. I wish you a Happy Thanksgiving, and cannot imagine how much fun will be had tomorrow. I am going to enjoy and relax and if a funeral comes along I am going to stop, if someone wants to be cremated then I respect their wishes. The legislature starts in January and you will be a good lobbyist.

[Veritas]

About funeral processions - Consider that this is an antiquated custom that started when everyone in town knew you. The custom continued as towns grew larger and people, needing to yeild to a lengthy procession, would even get out of their vehicles by the side of the road (not recommended today) to "pay their respects" to the family/extended family of a fellow townsperson. With an ever-burgeoning population, people should consider looking forward and coming up with alternatives to a practice that is unworkable in the long run. Eventually, cremation will be a requirement, due to the need for space, along with possibly paving over cemeteries. Cemetery marketing slogans notwithstanding, there's no such thing as "perpetual care". Therefore another way to look at funeral processions is that the recently deceased did not have the consideration for others to make plans that didn't inconvenience hundreds (or thousands, depending on the length of the processsion and the distance traveled) of people he/she didn't know. This lack of consideration is compounded by being laid out lengthwise in a field, the formaldehyde-based embalming fluid eventually leeching into the soil to contaminate it and do who-knows-what to the groundwater! Worldwide, multiply this scene times 20 billion over the next hundred years and you'll see what I mean about the practices surrounding funerals being antiquated!

 

Wow--just, wow.

 

As for what the law is, this is covered in Georgia Code - Motor Vehicles & Traffic - Title 40, Section 40-6-76. Feel free to peruse the entire statute at http://law.onecle.com/georgia/40/40-6-76.html The sections most relevant to this discussion (except for population control dribble posted by the above member) are:

 

(c ) Funeral processions escorted by the police, a sheriff, or a sheriff´s deputy shall have the right of way in any street or highway through which they may pass. Local governments may, by ordinance, provide for such escort service and provide for the imposition of reasonable fees to defray the cost of such service.

 

(d) The operator of a vehicle not in a funeral procession shall not interrupt a funeral procession except when authorized to do so by a traffic officer or when such vehicle is an authorized emergency vehicle or law enforcement vehicle giving an audible and visual signal.

 

(e) Operators of vehicles not a part of a funeral procession shall not join a funeral procession by operating their headlights for the purpose of securing the right of way granted by this Code section to funeral processions.

 

(f) The operator of a vehicle not in a funeral procession shall not attempt to pass vehicles in a funeral procession on a two-lane highway.

 

(g) Any person violating subsection (d), (e), or (f) of this Code section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be punished by a fine not to exceed $100.00.

 

So one sees that a funeral procession enjoys the right of way through intersections and in the direction in which it travels. In other words, no one can cut in front of the procession, or force their way into the middle of a procession. There is, however, no statutory requirement that people in the opposite direction pull over, as there is for emergency vehicles. This includes on a two-lane road, which basically all but two roads in Paulding County are. That is a custom more frequently seen in small towns, and I think that it is nice bit of civility. I can understand that this would be more difficult to do in a larger county, and certainly anywhere on a divided highway it would not be practical.

[dawneykids]

Wow--just, wow.

 

As for what the law is, this is covered in Georgia Code - Motor Vehicles & Traffic - Title 40, Section 40-6-76. Feel free to peruse the entire statute at http://law.onecle.com/georgia/40/40-6-76.html The sections most relevant to this discussion (except for population control dribble posted by the above member) are:

 

(c ) Funeral processions escorted by the police, a sheriff, or a sheriff´s deputy shall have the right of way in any street or highway through which they may pass. Local governments may, by ordinance, provide for such escort service and provide for the imposition of reasonable fees to defray the cost of such service.

 

(d) The operator of a vehicle not in a funeral procession shall not interrupt a funeral procession except when authorized to do so by a traffic officer or when such vehicle is an authorized emergency vehicle or law enforcement vehicle giving an audible and visual signal.

 

(e) Operators of vehicles not a part of a funeral procession shall not join a funeral procession by operating their headlights for the purpose of securing the right of way granted by this Code section to funeral processions.

 

(f) The operator of a vehicle not in a funeral procession shall not attempt to pass vehicles in a funeral procession on a two-lane highway.

 

(g) Any person violating subsection (d), (e), or (f) of this Code section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be punished by a fine not to exceed $100.00.

 

So one sees that a funeral procession enjoys the right of way through intersections and in the direction in which it travels. In other words, no one can cut in front of the procession, or force their way into the middle of a procession. There is, however, no statutory requirement that people in the opposite direction pull over, as there is for emergency vehicles. This includes on a two-lane road, which basically all but two roads in Paulding County are. That is a custom more frequently seen in small towns, and I think that it is nice bit of civility. I can understand that this would be more difficult to do in a larger county, and certainly anywhere on a divided highway it would not be practical.

I agree. And as long as I can safely stop, turn down my radio, stop talking and give thanks that it's not me or mine in the hearse or the procession, I'm stopping.

[eym_sirius]

eym Sirius, wow you are so positive. I am thankful that tomorrow that I do not have your beliefs. I do respect an opinion. The first thing is major laws would have to be changed, and as you have seen with the airport and the Braves you and I really do not have a choice. I wish you a Happy Thanksgiving, and cannot imagine how much fun will be had tomorrow. I am going to enjoy and relax and if a funeral comes along I am going to stop, if someone wants to be cremated then I respect their wishes. The legislature starts in January and you will be a good lobbyist.

 

What do you mean by "I ...... cannot imagine how much fun will be had tomorrow." What does enjoyment of holidays have to do with a forward-thinking view of funeral processions? Are you implying that unless someone shares your outlook, they can't possibly experience enjoyment? I also don't understand "you will be a good lobbyist". What do those previously discussed views have to do with lobbying?

 

One more thing -- I'm so "positive"? What does endorsing cremation have to do with negativity? I'm proposing a BETTER way to do things so that people in the city/suburbs aren't inconvenienced by inconsiderate people who didn't think beyond themselves when making their end-of-life arrangements. Under what set of circumstances is a "dead people taking up LIVING SPACE paradigm" desirable? It's unnatural, inconsiderate to all concerned, and environmentally toxic. Cremation is simply a better way to address the challenge of what to do with the no longer living. I don't own a cremation business or have any investments in cremation. It's just time for society to accept a new process for a variety of reasons, not the least of which are the current problems with funerals and funeral processsions. Working on existing problems for the purpose of making things better is a good thing! The first step is recognizing the problems so that they don't become unmanageable.

[jennilyn77]

My grandmother had her body donated to science. There was a memorial service a year later for all the family members whos loved ones did the same thing. It was really nice. The PhD students who had worked with (learned from) our loved ones got up and spoke, some of them even shed a tear. I always thought it was a little weird that my grandmother wanted to do that, but I get it now. She did it to help others.

 

A little off topic of funeral processions but on-topic with after life options.

[mojo413]

What do you mean by "I ...... cannot imagine how much fun will be had tomorrow." What does enjoyment of holidays have to do with a forward-thinking view of funeral processions? Are you implying that unless someone shares your outlook, they can't possibly experience enjoyment? I also don't understand "you will be a good lobbyist". What do those previously discussed views have to do with lobbying?

 

One more thing -- I'm so "positive"? What does endorsing cremation have to do with negativity? I'm proposing a BETTER way to do things so that people in the city/suburbs aren't inconvenienced by inconsiderate people who didn't think beyond themselves when making their end-of-life arrangements. Under what set of circumstances is a "dead people taking up LIVING SPACE paradigm" desirable? It's unnatural, inconsiderate to all concerned, and environmentally toxic. Cremation is simply a better way to address the challenge of what to do with the no longer living. I don't own a cremation business or have any investments in cremation. It's just time for society to accept a new process for a variety of reasons, not the least of which are the current problems with funerals and funeral processsions. Working on existing problems for the purpose of making things better is a good thing! The first step is recognizing the problems so that they don't become unmanageable.

 

Thank you for "proposing a BETTER way to do things so that people in the city/suburbs aren't inconvenienced by inconsiderate people who didn't think beyond themselves when making their end-of-life arrangements".

 

My Dad bought plots and had a marker installed in the neighborhood church cemetery back in SC in 1961. When he died in 1982 I arranged with a local funeral home to bury my Dad there. In 2007 my friend Sam Clark took Mom back and buried her beside Dad. We still have 2) plots available after Mom gave 2) to her best friend to bury her husband then, and her when that time comes. In 2009 Sam again served our family by burying our daughter in a plot we purchased here. We still have 5) plots here in GA.

 

To answer your question "Under what set of circumstances is a "dead people taking up LIVING SPACE paradigm" desirable? This past weekend I stood at my Mom & Dad's graves and celebrated many good memories. I gave honor to my Dad for having much wisdom in 1961 to prepare a place for us to celebrate our memories in 2013. This place and my daughters grave are very important to our grieving process.

 

I'm guessing you and maybe your family are fine with keeping a loved ones ashes in an urn or spreading the ashes somewhere special, and for you this is important. For me, I will continue to choose traditional burial when given the responsibility to make final arrangements.

Edited November 28, 2013 by mojo413

[eym_sirius]

Thank you for "proposing a BETTER way to do things so that people in the city/suburbs aren't inconvenienced by inconsiderate people who didn't think beyond themselves when making their end-of-life arrangements".

 

My Dad bought plots and had a marker installed in the neighborhood church cemetery back in SC in 1961. When he died in 1982 I arranged with a local funeral home to bury my Dad there. In 2007 my friend Sam Clark took Mom back and buried her beside Dad. We still have 2) plots available after Mom gave 2) to her best friend to bury her husband then, and her when that time comes. In 2009 Sam again served our family by burying our daughter in a plot we purchased here. We still have 5) plots here in GA.

 

To answer your question "Under what set of circumstances is a "dead people taking up LIVING SPACE paradigm" desirable? This past weekend I stood at my Mom & Dad's graves and celebrated many good memories. I gave honor to my Dad for having much wisdom in 1961 to prepare a place for us to celebrate our memories in 2013. This place and my daughters grave are very important to our grieving process.

 

I'm guessing you and maybe your family are fine with keeping a loved ones ashes in an urn or spreading the ashes somewhere special, and for you this is important. For me, I will continue to choose traditional burial when given the responsibility to make final arrangements.

 

Thanks for the response. Do you see the eventual need for mankind to develop alternatives to the laid-out-longways burial sites? How do you reconcile the eventual environmental damage, as well as the waste of valuable land resources, given the exploding population, worldwide? Or do you choose to not consider these things? Visualize all of the other graves in the cemetery, most of them no longer visited by anyone. In a generation or two, this will be the situation at your gravesite and it will be the situation of everyone's gravesite. Yet, there you are for a couple of hundred years or possibly more after no one has visited the gravesite. Is there

no acceptable alternative for you, except the "traditional"? For you to celebrate memories of your parents, why must a burial location be involved? That was not their life, was it? The grave markers serve as a visual reminder, but no commemorative headstone can do justice to any life, in my opinion. What happens to the body and the land seems to me to be a disservice to both.

 

Spreading ashes, conversion to a gemstone, or incorporation into something useful (other than "SoylentGreen") -- the particular choice isn't important, but the fact that a person puts future Earth residents' needs for space and regard for the environment ahead of his own temporary desire for traditional conformity is valuable because it is considerate.

 

[mojo413]

Thanks for the response. Do you see the eventual need for mankind to develop alternatives to the laid-out-longways burial sites? How do you reconcile the eventual environmental damage, as well as the waste of valuable land resources, given the exploding population, worldwide? Or do you choose to not consider these things? Visualize all of the other graves in the cemetery, most of them no longer visited by anyone. In a generation or two, this will be the situation at your gravesite and it will be the situation of everyone's gravesite. Yet, there you are for a couple of hundred years or possibly more after no one has visited the gravesite. Is there

no acceptable alternative for you, except the "traditional"? For you to celebrate memories of your parents, why must a burial location be involved? That was not their life, was it? The grave markers serve as a visual reminder, but no commemorative headstone can do justice to any life, in my opinion. What happens to the body and the land seems to me to be a disservice to both.

 

Spreading ashes, conversion to a gemstone, or incorporation into something useful (other than "SoylentGreen") -- the particular choice isn't important, but the fact that a person puts future Earth residents' needs for space and regard for the environment ahead of his own temporary desire for traditional conformity is valuable because it is considerate.

 

 

Here's the bottom line. I'll continue to bury my dead and you will continue to cremate your dead.

I respect your choice. Maybe my children or grandchildren will choose to cremate after I'm gone.

Actually swaying my opinion will come down to an economic choice. When the EPA decides to align with your opinions and regulate burial to the point it's no longer affordable to me, then I will be forced to face your choice.

 

Until then burial plots, vaults, headstones, and traditional burial are my choice.

[eym_sirius]

Here's the bottom line. I'll continue to bury my dead and you will continue to cremate your dead.

I respect your choice. Maybe my children or grandchildren will choose to cremate after I'm gone.

Actually swaying my opinion will come down to an economic choice. When the EPA decides to align with your opinions and regulate burial to the point it's no longer affordable to me, then I will be forced to face your choice.

 

Until then burial plots, vaults, headstones, and traditional burial are my choice.

 

I appreciate the conversation about this topic! I didn't have any illusions about changing your mind, so it's not the "bottom line" that interests me, but instead,the discussion of a topic that most people evidently avoid. But that's part of my point here. I think that people avoid the subject, never get around to discussing the relative merits/detriments of the options. So they end up defaulting to the traditional/antiquated/obsolete model. I'm sure that the funeral business appreciates the failure of the general public to adopt or even consider a new paradigm.

 

I never said that I would "cremate my dead". I don't have any dead! It's a personal decision and I would never impose that decision on anyone else. It's interesting that you have no interest in future living space on those who will inherit our messes, the negative ecological impact of embalming and that you did not even address those issues. What I hear you saying is what matters to you are your personal temporary desires and the fact that your remains will be littering the landscape for the next few hundred years is of little importance to you. I'm not singling you out, please understand. Your attitude seems to be the norm! Bringing this back to the topic of funeral processions, the prevailiing attitude is similarly one of lack of consideration for other people. Most folks simply don't consider the impact on others when they make their plans, which is why I say, "inconsiderate".

[smy34]

Sirius, until the laws change on perpetual care locations, and you change the Ga Code as veritas so nicely looked up, I really do not see much changing. I have seen an increase in cremation, and most you will find chose this to save money, even though they would like to use the traditional funeral. What I meant is that if you feel this strongly then you may lobby in Atlanta to change both laws, where cremation is the only way for a family to use. You say you don't have anybody dead, I did not until about 3 weeks ago and the lots were purchased in 1942, and have been just fine for my lifetime. If you believe in cremation, that's great, if you believe in passing a funeral procession, then you may go around, and risk being stopped and ticketed. What I mean in the end that I am proud of my familys heritage, and glad that we have these beliefs. Have a great weekend.....

[mojo413]

Sirius, until the laws change on perpetual care locations, and you change the Ga Code as veritas so nicely looked up, I really do not see much changing. I have seen an increase in cremation, and most you will find chose this to save money, even though they would like to use the traditional funeral. What I meant is that if you feel this strongly then you may lobby in Atlanta to change both laws, where cremation is the only way for a family to use. You say you don't have anybody dead, I did not until about 3 weeks ago and the lots were purchased in 1942, and have been just fine for my lifetime. If you believe in cremation, that's great, if you believe in passing a funeral procession, then you may go around, and risk being stopped and ticketed. What I mean in the end that I am proud of my familys heritage, and glad that we have these beliefs. Have a great weekend.....

 

Well said...

It all comes down to we all have a choice if we will plan our final resting place and method.

Some of us choose to respect the passing of other people by pausing a few moments and some don't.

Some if us choose traditional burial and some don't.

Some of us plan for our passing years ahead and some don't.

 

The fact is...

For everyone of us, most likely our final resting place and method will be carried out by someone else.

I have handled 3 family members final arrangments. 2 were unexpected. 1 was expected for 10 days. I did the best I could. When getting the call again, I will do the best I can to honor the deceased wishes. Where the wishes were not known, I made the plans the best I could.

 

To those who oppose my traditional burial position...

I'm sorry I'm really not into the saving space mode or that I really trust vaults intererity.

But see when I'm called to make final arrangments, you don't get a vote. And when you are called to make final arrangments, I don't get a vote.

And if I see a funeral today, I will access the traffic and if I can pull over safely, I will.

[mojo413]

- the particular choice isn't important, but the fact that a person puts future Earth residents' needs for space and regard for the environment ahead of his own temporary desire for traditional conformity is valuable because it is considerate.

 

 

Let me spin this topic off in a totally different direction.

 

I'm reading in between the lines and let me guess, you pride yourself in being "Green". Let me say it a different way I'll bet you have a real problem with the vast number who do not "Save the Earth".

 

I managed major projects and buildings for 40 years before my retirement. I experienced first hand many with good intentions who were "Green" and wanted to "Save the Earth". It seemed they always found me to give me a list of things I should do like retrofitting the buildings with solar panels. My experiance was this was the group that did not know how to shut the door when it was 20 or 90 outside. Could not remember to cut the lights off when leaving a room. And just didn't have time to take paper to the re-cycling bin. Never did I find one who was interested in our tracking data showing our tremendous savings due to our innovative energy management process's already in place.

 

Basically over many years I came up with a term. "Being 'Green' means... I've got a list of rules everyone else should follow... But I ain't got time myself".

[Veritas]

How about starting a new topic for discussions about burial arrangements? This one, which seems to have run its course, is supposed to be about funeral processions on the road.