after sunday's apple picking, we passed by a cemetery and decided to check it out. i could see the older section in the back, and just wanted to skip the newer part until i saw the above unusual grave. this is the grave of erin elizabeth goddard. she was only 17 when she died in a car accident. this is all i could find about her, from the find a grave website: Miss Goddard was a senior at Westford Academy, where she was a cheerleader and captain of the Senior Girls Powder Puff Team. She also played on the academy softball team and was active in Students Against Driving Drunk. She once worked in the Lowell summer youth employment program at Westford Town Hall." the only other thing i could find is that the westford academy has a "erin elizabeth goddard memorial award", which is given to a graduating senior pursuing further study in english.
the note she holds in her hands says: "friends" erin goddard. my love for all them they may never see. but it does exist and i insist that they'll forever be a part of me." i wonder whether she wrote that, and whether that is her handwriting.... the stone, the note, everything makes me wonder about this girl.... [after a comment, which you can read below, from erin's mother, here is a link to a youtube video of erin. and indeed, she did wrote the note, and that is her handwriting]
after taking a few pictures, we went back to the car and i already felt a bit uncomfortable as there was once again a policecar driving around (i tell you, if you need police assistance, go to your local cemetery, thats probably where they are hanging out). he came driving by, and just like in the movies, he stopped, opened his window, making tim do the same. he then asked whether we knew her. tim said no, and i was afraid he would send us away/get mad/do whatever crazy unexpected thing cops do in bad movies. but he just started rambling that he knew the person mowing the grass at the cemetery, and that that person experienced some weird things, "ghosts and stuff, you know". and that it was very sad, such a young girl, and that there was another young girl a bit further..... :( he completely ruined my mood, and we just left after that, did not even check out the old section!
for a listing of the other taphophiles, go here!
11 comments:
What a beautiful and unusual stone. I expect it's made a few people jump or do a double take.
Such a sad way for Erin to meet her end.
Beneath Thy Feet
Very different.
I have never seen this before and I am not sure I like it. It is so real she is like sitting there on her own grave. It frightens me a bit. Had to laugh about your text "When you need a cop go to a cemetery"!
I have never seen a modern gravestone like this one. Maybe it comforts her family to see her image when they visit the cemetery. And, maybe the police officer was just trying to be friendly and helpful.
very different indeed! i also dont really know if i like it, like biebkriebels..
and jack; perhaps you are right, but i am always wary of police...
Just a note to answer a few of your questions... I am Erin's mom. The poem is an original poem by Erin and it is written here in her own handwriting. This is the last verse of her poem. The Westford Police Dept. has always been supportive of our family and knew Erin from the work she did at the town hall, in addition to a few of her friends being, at one time or another, on the force. Erin was very loved, and it does not surprise me that the Police watch over that cemetery, and her. Thank you for stopping to see her...
For more about Erin, you can visit You Tube, and type "Erin Goddard" in the search box...
It's a most unusual grave. Even if you do not think it's beautiful, it's still a very good reminder and makes a much larger impression than a normal headstone, i think.
@deb; thank you for your comments.
i watched the video; the memorial looks very much like erin.
would you mind if i link to the video in this post?
(as for the police (i have mentioned this more often on my blog); in the netherlands, where i am from, you hardly ever see police on the street. so even after 3 years living here it is still weird for me to see such a large presence here, literally everywhere you go).
Hi CaT...
Please feel free to link Erin's video here. Thank you for pausing to wonder about her. Aside from the police presence, I hope that you are enjoying our country. Someday, I would love to visit yours... Deb
thank you! i finally got to adding the link.
and yes, both me and my boyfriend enjoy living here very much, and we try to see as much as we can, as eventually we will move back to the netherlands....
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