Fallen Cross

July 25th 2004 My oldest son's best friend died in a car crash here on RT 15 about 1/4 mile out of Stovall. That day I felt compelled to build a cross. The next day I hammered it into the ground beside RT 15 in the spot where he landed when he was thrown from the car when it flipped.

I made a very crude cross out of BORG 2x4's. I then painted it gloss white and attached a sharpie marker to the back side on a string. There were so many people that stopped and signed the cross I had to make another one a few days afterward because there was no room left to write on it. I gave the original cross with all the signatures and sayings on it to his father.

My wife informed me today the cross was laying down on the side of the road, so I went out to see why - despite that I painted it, it rotted off in the ground and broke off at ground level. I've been waiting for a good reason to use some of my Black Locust stash and this is it. I know BL won't rot away - least not in my lifetime.

Problem is I don't know what to do with the fallen cross - what would you do? It's pretty rotted and powder post beetles had it for breakfast lunch and dinner. I should have used something better than BORG 2x4's in the first place then I wouldn't have this problem. You would think a BORG 2x4 would last longer than 4 years but it didn't.

Thanks

[ptt49er]

hang it up some where you'll see it. Is it too infested to come into the shop? Maybe hang it up there.

[scsmith42]

Jeff, I would give the cross to your oldest son in remembrance of his best friend.

[Trent Mason]

Jeff,

Thanks for sharing your story. That is a great gesture and I'm sure it means so much to his family. What if you finished it with something really solid (epoxy/marine varnish)? Wouldn't that trap whatever bugs there are inside? Maybe after that it would be safe to go indoors and you could give it to the family.

HTH,

Trent

[ScottM]

Jeff, is there enough good wood left to make a smaller or even a couple smaller crosses? Then you can give them to your son and the young man's other friends. I would be glad to assist in such a noble jesture.

[Bas]

I like NC Scroller's suggestion. If you're willing to spend the time, you could also make a form for the cross (use nails to raise it off the bottom) and encase it completely in some sort of epoxy/ plastic, and give it to your son. Sort of what Trent and scsmith said.

Or cut/ plane it up completely into very small pieces/ shavings, mix it with some sort of epoxy, and make a footing out of it to which you'll attach the new cross. That way, old and new will remain together.

[lwhughes149]

When minds come together a good thing will happen. A wonderful jesture on your part. Once something has been made I am sure many of us would love to see the final product.

[christopheralan]

Originally Posted by NC Scroller

Jeff, is there enough good wood left to make a smaller or even a couple smaller crosses? Then you can give them to your son and the young man's other friends. I would be glad to assist in such a noble jesture.

I agree.

[Mike Davis]

Ashes to ashes, dust to dust. Nothing lasts forever, let it go.

Plant a tree in his memory.

[Robert Arrowood]

Jeff that was a great thing for you to do. We all know you don't turn "yet". Like NC Scroller said mabe make some smaller cross's to give to the friends.And if there is enough mabe even have someone turn a pen for your son.Or even better "YOU" turn it on someone else's lathe .That way it would mean that much more to your son.Mabe I think too much but it sounds good to me.

I decided I'm going to drive a steel rod into the ground and attach the rod to the back of the cross. The cross just has to much sentimental value for folks around here to do anything else with it. Instead of a steel rod - I might use a piece of Black Locust instead.

Thanks

Originally Posted by jeff...

I decided I'm going to drive a steel rod into the ground and attach the rod to the back of the cross. The cross just has to much sentimental value for folks around here to do anything else with it. Instead of a steel rod - I might use a piece of Black Locust instead.

Thanks

Maybe you could find some type of clear epoxy or resin that you could apply to the cross to help preserve it from the elements.