When and how should we honor our dead?

By NickelDime — John B.

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The proposed signage renaming the Golden Valley Bridge, part of the recently completed Cross Valley Connector

This morning’s Daily Brief highlighted an item on the upcoming City Council meeting agenda to rename the recently completed Golden Valley Bridge after fallen Deputy Cameron Glover. In that context, reader Petz brings up an interesting point:

I feel that it is premature to name a multimillion dollar bridge after Deputy Cameron Glover. His accident was tragic for the family and our local sheriffs office, but his death did not occur in the line of duty. To my knowledge, I’ve never seen a report on the accident investigation

Deputy David March was a sheriff deputy with deep roots in our town who died in the line of duty and his parents (who live locally) have been active in a campaign to prevent similar tragedies, and keep his memory alive.

It is not appropriate to entertain naming this bridge for anyone at this time. I urge the council to turn down Ms Enders proposal and instead establish guidelines for naming public property after distinguished and deserving local residents.

The cost of the bridge, I think, is less relevant than the latter point: naming public property should have objective criteria. Absent that, memorializing some but not others becomes a popularity contest.

Sadly, there isn’t a comfortable outcome on this action.

The circumstances surrounding Deputy Glover’s death haven’t been made public, but there is no question his passing took place outside the line of duty.

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There has been an outpouring of support for the family of Deputy Glover, but arguably less so for that of Jeff Laird – the father of four who was killed in a traffic accident just days later. Both incidents were civilian, traffic related deaths. Should a road or bridge named after Mr. Laird? And to Petz’s point, what about a road for Deputy March? While he has an interchange named in his memory, it is clear out in San Gabriel Valley rather than his native SCV. How about some other sons of SCV who were recently killed while serving their country, Sgt. Ian Gelig and Pfc. Jake Suter?

None of this takes any pain away from the families who endure the loss of their loved ones, and disputing over when to name a road in someone’s honor certainly doesn’t help. Which is exactly why the City should establish objective criteria for naming public property in memory of those whom we have lost.

Comments (17)

BrianJune 4, 2010 at 9:54 am

How many everywhere memorials will there be before we are the City of the Dead? Awesometown? How about Memphis? Nothing brightens my day than to see city oficials names all over town and nothing breaks a mood better than a reminder of our mortality. Cemetaries and memorial parks are great. USE THEM!

PetzJune 4, 2010 at 10:08 am

Petz in no way desires to diminish the loss and pain felt by the family and colleagues of Deputy Glover. My interest in responding was based upon my observation of a recently named interhcange in East LA for a Medal of Honor Winner – Eugene Obergon. http://egpnews.com/?p=18426 I was pleasantly surprised to see a Medal of Honor winner recognized in such a public manner in the 21st century. In this case there was a groundswell movement among citizens to recognize the bravery of this Marine in the Korean War. More broadly, the community wanted to recognize the contribution of Hispanic soldiers in defense of our nation. The bridge for the Cross Valley Connector is a very prominent landmark. Before beginning the process of naming this edifice for Cameron Glover based on visceral emotion-the city should establish guidelines for the future. As a meaningful alternative, perhaps a marker visible from McBean Pkwy could be used as a reminder to those who travel the road to remain vigilant and drive safely. My heart aches for the family of Deputy Glover and my comments are not meant to diminish the tragedy of his untimely death.

valleynewsgalJune 4, 2010 at 10:53 am

Deputy David March has a park named after him in the Plum Canyon area.

PetzJune 4, 2010 at 11:40 am

That is a County Park. Deputy Tim White died of natural causes about the same time as Cameron Glover- worked at Pitchess and his mother works and lives in Santa Clarita. Just as tragic as an accident. IMHO one of the criterion should be a five year waiting period to get away from raw emotion and gain perspective on the influence and contribution of the individual to the community.

PetzJune 4, 2010 at 11:50 am

Tim White graduated Hart Class of 1993 and had survived a brutal kidnapping that resulted in national legislation meant to help missing and expoited children. His death was tragic for the family and the Sheriif’s Dept too.

navigatorJune 4, 2010 at 1:01 pm

Please come to City Council Tuesday night and speak regarding this issue. You are all absolutely correct. The deputy’s death was a tragic loss to his family and to Santa Clarita but there have been many others as well. Ms Ender needs to rethink her proposal and ask for the item to be brought back at a later date perhaps with another site in mind. This is a no-win situation whether you speak for it or against it so let’s advise thinking with less emotional thought.

mikeJune 4, 2010 at 1:19 pm

A brave post. It’s a very touchy thing to argue against once it’s posed, but I really hope rational heads will prevail. This would not be appropriate.

navigatorJune 4, 2010 at 1:24 pm

Exactly my point Mike. Hopefully the item will be pulled before the meeting.

navigatorJune 4, 2010 at 3:03 pm

Thank goodness! The item has been pulled. We can all go to Petz’ for coffee and cake.

PetzJune 4, 2010 at 2:28 pm

Petz will be stuffing the ballot box at Rosedell Elementary on Tuesday as the on site Inspector. Will not be able to make it to council chambers.

Timothy MyersJune 4, 2010 at 2:53 pm

Are you going to invite the ten people that show up to cast poll ballots over for coffee and cake?

PetzJune 4, 2010 at 4:55 pm

Beer and Brats

BrianJune 4, 2010 at 3:52 pm

Why not a peace officers memorial park. We all hope it doesn’t need to be too big!

Whiskey Tango FoxtrotJune 4, 2010 at 8:49 pm

Great idea Brian. There should be some formal criteria in place to name bridges, parks, streets etc after a person who died. A 3-5 year waiting period would be a good start. I feel awkward even suggesting this but I feel some procedure should be set.

ToddJune 4, 2010 at 9:37 pm

Any officer’s loss, is a loss for the whole community. And while we’re on this topic…. I think that we need to seriously rethink all our naming strategies altogether. Case in point: Mike Antonovich. Yes, he’s been in office as a “dedicated public servant” for years… But we already have parks, courthouses, and all sorts of other stuff named after him. He’s still in office (so right off the bat, highly inappropriate) but the simple fact is, he’s still capable of embarrassing himself, and more importantly, the entire community. After all, it only takes one bad decision on the way home from a holiday party, birthday gathering, or whatever to turn very very tragic… and suddenly we have all these places named after a person who is now infamous…. I think that we ought to reserve naming buildings, parks, bridges, etc as memorial tribute, and only do so after a somewhat significant period of time passes… 5 years would be a minimum IMHO.

ToadlyJune 5, 2010 at 5:38 pm

I agree with the general sentiment: have some time after the honoree passes (a couple of years, five years?) before public facilities get tagged with someone’s name. And this thing about public buildings getting named after politicians while they are still in office is just narcissism. Case in point: any bets on what the Newhall Library will be named? It’s time to step back on the issue and start thinking about some kind of policy to rein it in. Right now it is out of control.

KellyJune 5, 2010 at 9:09 am

I think the person needs to be deceased for 10 years before we can name stuff after them.

BrianJune 4, 2010 at 9:54 am
How many everywhere memorials will there be before we are the City of the Dead? Awesometown? How about Memphis? Nothing brightens my day than to see city oficials names all over town and nothing breaks a mood better than a reminder of our mortality. Cemetaries and memorial parks are great. USE THEM!
PetzJune 4, 2010 at 10:08 am
Petz in no way desires to diminish the loss and pain felt by the family and colleagues of Deputy Glover. My interest in responding was based upon my observation of a recently named interhcange in East LA for a Medal of Honor Winner – Eugene Obergon. http://egpnews.com/?p=18426 I was pleasantly surprised to see a Medal of Honor winner recognized in such a public manner in the 21st century. In this case there was a groundswell movement among citizens to recognize the bravery of this Marine in the Korean War. More broadly, the community wanted to recognize the contribution of Hispanic soldiers in defense of our nation. The bridge for the Cross Valley Connector is a very prominent landmark. Before beginning the process of naming this edifice for Cameron Glover based on visceral emotion-the city should establish guidelines for the future. As a meaningful alternative, perhaps a marker visible from McBean Pkwy could be used as a reminder to those who travel the road to remain vigilant and drive safely. My heart aches for the family of Deputy Glover and my comments are not meant to diminish the tragedy of his untimely death.
valleynewsgalJune 4, 2010 at 10:53 am
Deputy David March has a park named after him in the Plum Canyon area.
PetzJune 4, 2010 at 11:40 am
That is a County Park. Deputy Tim White died of natural causes about the same time as Cameron Glover- worked at Pitchess and his mother works and lives in Santa Clarita. Just as tragic as an accident. IMHO one of the criterion should be a five year waiting period to get away from raw emotion and gain perspective on the influence and contribution of the individual to the community.
PetzJune 4, 2010 at 11:50 am
Tim White graduated Hart Class of 1993 and had survived a brutal kidnapping that resulted in national legislation meant to help missing and expoited children. His death was tragic for the family and the Sheriif’s Dept too.
navigatorJune 4, 2010 at 1:01 pm
Please come to City Council Tuesday night and speak regarding this issue. You are all absolutely correct. The deputy’s death was a tragic loss to his family and to Santa Clarita but there have been many others as well. Ms Ender needs to rethink her proposal and ask for the item to be brought back at a later date perhaps with another site in mind. This is a no-win situation whether you speak for it or against it so let’s advise thinking with less emotional thought.
mikeJune 4, 2010 at 1:19 pm
A brave post. It’s a very touchy thing to argue against once it’s posed, but I really hope rational heads will prevail. This would not be appropriate.
navigatorJune 4, 2010 at 1:24 pm
Exactly my point Mike. Hopefully the item will be pulled before the meeting.
navigatorJune 4, 2010 at 3:03 pm
Thank goodness! The item has been pulled. We can all go to Petz’ for coffee and cake.
PetzJune 4, 2010 at 2:28 pm
Petz will be stuffing the ballot box at Rosedell Elementary on Tuesday as the on site Inspector. Will not be able to make it to council chambers.
Timothy MyersJune 4, 2010 at 2:53 pm
Are you going to invite the ten people that show up to cast poll ballots over for coffee and cake?
PetzJune 4, 2010 at 4:55 pm
Beer and Brats
BrianJune 4, 2010 at 3:52 pm
Why not a peace officers memorial park. We all hope it doesn’t need to be too big!
Whiskey Tango FoxtrotJune 4, 2010 at 8:49 pm
Great idea Brian. There should be some formal criteria in place to name bridges, parks, streets etc after a person who died. A 3-5 year waiting period would be a good start. I feel awkward even suggesting this but I feel some procedure should be set.
ToddJune 4, 2010 at 9:37 pm
Any officer’s loss, is a loss for the whole community. And while we’re on this topic…. I think that we need to seriously rethink all our naming strategies altogether. Case in point: Mike Antonovich. Yes, he’s been in office as a “dedicated public servant” for years… But we already have parks, courthouses, and all sorts of other stuff named after him. He’s still in office (so right off the bat, highly inappropriate) but the simple fact is, he’s still capable of embarrassing himself, and more importantly, the entire community. After all, it only takes one bad decision on the way home from a holiday party, birthday gathering, or whatever to turn very very tragic… and suddenly we have all these places named after a person who is now infamous…. I think that we ought to reserve naming buildings, parks, bridges, etc as memorial tribute, and only do so after a somewhat significant period of time passes… 5 years would be a minimum IMHO.
ToadlyJune 5, 2010 at 5:38 pm
I agree with the general sentiment: have some time after the honoree passes (a couple of years, five years?) before public facilities get tagged with someone’s name. And this thing about public buildings getting named after politicians while they are still in office is just narcissism. Case in point: any bets on what the Newhall Library will be named? It’s time to step back on the issue and start thinking about some kind of policy to rein it in. Right now it is out of control.
KellyJune 5, 2010 at 9:09 am
I think the person needs to be deceased for 10 years before we can name stuff after them.