came upon this
bench in a park
with
a beautiful view
looking out
toward the water
at first
seeing it was covered with flowers
i imagined
a romantic gesture
left behind
in their happiness
for others
to enjoy
as i got closer
i read the dedication at the top of the bench
‘to vincent’
‘so we can sit and talk forever. godspeed’
october 31, 2004 – october 8, 2024
born on halloween
gone before he could celebrate
his 20th halloween and birthday
what a loving dedication
a wish to stay connected
a place to return
to sit in silence
with their memories of him
i then understood the real reason
the flowers and cards
with hearts on them
all with his name
‘vincent’
were left here
the marker
the paper
left behind
perhaps
for those
who might come later
in their own time
did this begin
with one friend
missing him
other friends
each arriving
as they could
or
all at once
did he love this park
did he love the view
do they
have memories
of times there
shared with
vincent
the flowers
a gift of beauty
the notes
i imagine
were
a gift of words
to say
we miss you
to say
we remember you
to say
we love you
to say
we won’t ever forget you
i picture them
returning to this bench
each year
on the anniversary
of losing their dear friend
looking toward the water
remembering
vincent.
—
‘you meet people who forget you. you forget people you meet.
but sometimes you meet those people you can’t forget.
those are your friends.’
~ Mark Twain
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Wishing him rest in peace…
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<3
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💜💞
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I see this quite often on benches in England. Very poignant.
Best wishes, Pete.
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yes, they are wonderful dedications on these benches. i think what really struck me was his age, and that they had come on the anniversary of his death to leave the things.
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He was so young–and also so well loved. Many of the benches in the park where I walk have dedications, and I’ve seen flowers left there.
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i just love these gestures
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How soecial. ❤️❤️
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<3
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This is beautiful. Your writing, the message, the bench and its purpose. All of it. You gave me a nice start on a rainy, muggy Thursday.
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happy to do so -thank you
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Beautiful
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thank you
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This was a very good reminder to start my day… appreciate the people I love. Bring them the flowers now. Tell them the kind words today…
Love them like there is no tomorrow.
Thank you for this wonderfully poignant post, Beth
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yes –
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We miss you
We remember you
Beth…thank you so much. Wet eyes this morning as I read…straight to my heart. Especially two lines in tandem.
Thank you. ❤️❤️❤️
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<3
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A very memorable memorial, Beth
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<3
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A timely reminder to cherish our loved ones who are around and not forget who are gone.
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yes
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To feel that friendship is a precious gift that many people can share.
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absolutely
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So young and so well-loved and his memorial touched you and us. A beautiful thing to come out of sadness.
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<3
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🥹
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A heartwarming gesture
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very much so
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♥️♥️♥️
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A wonderful tribute to Vincent.
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<3
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I love benches like this. Warmer than a grave.
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yes, and i love what it said
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Beautiful tribute. I wouldn’t mind if someone did this for me someday. Hopefully far in the future, of course!
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it was so moving, especially for someone so young
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Such a lovely and touching gesture. True friends, true family. 💕
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yes, it was beautiful
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Love the remembering… so powerful
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<3
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Oh, Beth, this is so sad, so touching, so joyful, so loving…
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as i began to understand what it was, i was so moved. it was clearly other young people, friends, who did this, judging by the handwriting on the envelopes.
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Beautiful tribute and memory to Vincent, whereve he is now.
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it was so incredibly sweet and especially so because of his age, and the writing on the envelopes were clearly written by young people
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What an emotional scene to come across, Beth. It reminds me of the grave of a 15 year old pilot who died in WW1. His grave in Flanders was piled high with flowers from school tours visitors. Very touching.
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so very sweet and heartbreaking at the same time. thank you so much for sharing that. i had never heard about this young pilot.
i think memorial really really stuck me when i saw vincent’s age and i’m sure the letters were from young people as well, judging by the handwriting on the envelopes and the way they wrote his name.
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Yes, I think young people are very moved when another young person dies. It’s an event out of line with the circle of life.
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yes, i think that’s it exactly. it’s so hard for them to fathom and then accept. not how life is supposed to go.
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Mistey-eyed here
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it seemed especially poignant, and beautiful because it looked like he and the friends must have been so young, looking at the writing on the envelopes
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<3
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This is a beautiful memorial – so that Vincent can live on forever. Gosh, 20 is far too young.
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so close to 20, a few weeks away, and a beautiful memorial indeed
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What a beautiful way to remember someone.
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it was lovely
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O Beth; that’s such a beautifully poignant post; the tugs of the human heart; a moving tribute; may we be loved and not forgotten —
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yes, i was so very moved
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A wonderful gesture to dedicate a bench to a person with such a short life. He will be always remembered and talked about!
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yes, very kind and he will
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How lovely, and so special.
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<3
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