Memorial gifts are a human need, probably more for the living than for the dead. Memorial gifts, of course, pay due respect to the memories of the beloved people of humanity’s past. But, more importantly, memorial gifts give hope to the living. When we memorialize a person with a memorial gift of any sort whether it be a beautiful monument, an urn, a plaque, or even a memorial gift donation to a worthy charity we are carrying on an important human tradition that gives hope that we, ourselves, will be memorialized as well. Memorial gifts, then, are, in many respects, our own ticket into eternity.
Every man and woman struggles, perhaps privately, with his or her own ideas of what it means to be merely mortal, to live a finite life. And that can be a difficult idea for many to accept. Memorial gifts, however, help with those difficulties. By reminding us that, while our bodies may be temporary, our deeds and our spirit live forever memorial gifts are about as uplifting and as exciting as human phenomena can get. Memorial gifts are reminiscent of the idea put forth by Socrates and discussed at length by thousands of other philosophers and theologians over the centuries – that mankind is united, in every respect, with itself. That means, simply, that everything that has happened to man on Earth, and everything that ever will happen, has some effect on every human who has ever lived and who will ever live. That powerful concept connects us all – yes, even you who are reading this in the 21st century – with every man who has ever lived – even in the days before Socrates – and who ever will live – even in the days when mankind finally leaves the Earth to inhabit other planets. Memorial gifts are a perfect way to demonstrate that idea.
Memorial gifts are often thought of as sympathy gifts sent to families who are struggling with the loss of a loved-one. And that is certainly an excellent – and common – form for memorial gifts. But memorial gifts can be much more than, too. A number of examples of large-scale memorial gifts have arisen in recent years in Washington D.C. In 2004, for example, after decades of planning and work, officials unveiled an official memorial to the men and women who served in the American military during World War II. Because World War II was a turning point in the history of the world, this monument has become, right away, one of the most meaningful memorial gifts the world has ever known. Likewise, as of this writing, construction has just begun on a brand new Washington D.C. memorial to the famous civil rights leader Martin Luther King. This 4 acre memorial gift will open in 2008 very near the site where Dr. King delivered his legendary “I have a dream” speech in the 1960’s. And, it, like all of the other large scale memorial gifts surrounding the center of American Government – the Lincoln Monument, the Jefferson Memorial, and even the legendary Washington Monument – will be one of the most important memorial gifts of all time.
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