Tia Wright, a 12-year-old Pleasant Hills girl, was killed in a head-on collision in Jefferson Hills. A makeshift memorial with flowers and stuffed bears is growing at the crash site.
Duration : 0:1:44
Stuffed Animals Buried for Jackson
Friday, 17 Jul 2009, 3:33 PM PDT
DETROIT (WJBK) - The memorial outside the Motown Museum to honor the King of Pop is gone. The stuffed animals and other mementos are now laid to rest. The plots and headstone were donated and the burial was more than many people receive.
“Really, really makes my heart feel good about the city of Detroit,” said one person.
Stuffed animals that had been on the front lawn of Hitsville U.S.A. were loaded into hearses for a procession with police escort to Woodlawn Cemetery at Eight Mile Road and Woodward.
“The pieces of our love for Michael will now go with Michael’s soul,” said radio host Mason.
Those who came to remember Michael told us they don’t think it’s morbid or weird to have a headstone and a burial.
“It’s not morbid because the soul or the mind has to have some conclusion, some closure to the whole process of death, the transition of death,” said Beverly Kindle-Walker.
“I’ve been to many memorials all over the country and I’ve seen some very strange stuff, but this is befitting of the love that he had here,” said William Elijah.
“I grew up with Michael’s music. I grew up dancing in a studio and I think I can say for everybody in the dance community, we miss him a lot,” said Joelle Primeau.
The cemetery director told FOX 2 they routinely donate graves to people who need them and this is not an affront. It’s intended as a memorial.
“You can’t just through this stuff away. It’s very meaningful to people,” said Tracy Fowlkes-Elijah of the Midwest Memorial Group. “So, I had talked with the Motown Museum and said we’ve done this in the past. If you’d like, this is the offer and we think it may help you guys out because I know they weren’t thinking that far ahead and it kept getting bigger and bigger.”
“Michael was a healer. He was a lover and just to be here is important,” said Michael Jackson impersonator Tyuawn Brown.
“I feel kind of good that so many people remember him and I think he will always be remembered,” another person said.
Finally, Detroit Police tell FOX 2 this is the first and last time taxpayers will pay for a police escort to bury mementos. There has been a policy change.
Here’s our questions: Intention to remember Jackson in a meaningful way is understood, but… couldn’t some kids in need use the stuffed animals? How much did it cost for the head stones and plots? How much did it cost for the police escort? Sadly, we do stories every week asking our viewers to help with burials for families in need? It’s fair to ask if this is the best way to remember the Motown Icon, what do you think?
By JASON CARR
~ nichopoulouzo
Duration : 0:2:34