# Suggestions for Memorial Bench Plaque

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestions-for-memorial-bench-plaque/370523>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [August 28, 2006, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestions-for-memorial-bench-plaque/370523 "2006-08-28T14:24:02Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\
**Post date:** [August 28, 2006, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestions-for-memorial-bench-plaque/370523/1 "2006-08-28T14:24:02Z")

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I realize the absurdity of asking a bunch of anonymous people for a quote to place on a memorial bench, but some of you may have been through this process, or at least have some ideas.

My dad passed away last April, and we are now going to place a memorial bench in his favorite park. It’s really a fabulous park on the shores of Lake Huron, and since retirement he went for daily walks there.

Some background: He died at 71 of stomach cancer. By the time he was diagnosed, it was too late. He was born in Scotland, but loved Canada. A Robert Burns quote might be appropriate, if I could find one that serves the purpose.

Any ideas? Any good sites to Google?

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**Author:** ![Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/50afbb/32.png) [@Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duck_Duck_Goose)\
**Post date:** [August 28, 2006, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestions-for-memorial-bench-plaque/370523/2 "2006-08-28T14:36:34Z")

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Er…not to be a dick or anything, but…what immediately pops into my head is, if he was born in Scotland, but loved **Canada** , why use a Burns quote? Aren’t there any, like, _Canadian_ poets? (inquires the Yank in honest curiousity 😃 ) I’d like to see a memorial plaque that addresses what he **loved** , whether it was Canada or stamp collecting or Lake Huron. A plaque that said, “My Dad Really Loved This Spot” would speak to my heart as a casual passerby more than a Famous Quote from a Famous Poet.

Sorry. [goes away meekly]

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**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\
**Post date:** [August 28, 2006, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestions-for-memorial-bench-plaque/370523/3 "2006-08-28T15:14:43Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> 1. Epitaph on my Ever Honoured Father
> 
> O YE whose cheek the tear of pity stains,  
> Draw near with pious rev’rence, and attend!  
> Here lie the loving husband’s dear remains,  
> The tender father, and the gen’rous friend;  
> The pitying heart that felt for human woe,  
> The dauntless heart that fear’d no human pride;  
> The friend of man-to vice alone a foe;  
> For “ev’n his failings lean’d to virtue’s side.”

Robert Burns

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**Author:** ![Frelling\_Tralk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecc23a/32.png) [@Frelling\_Tralk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frelling_Tralk)\
**Post date:** [August 28, 2006, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestions-for-memorial-bench-plaque/370523/4 "2006-08-28T15:20:47Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> A plaque that said, “My Dad Really Loved This Spot” would speak to my heart as a casual passerby more than a Famous Quote from a Famous Poet.

Speaking as someone who devours historical markers of all sorts, I certainly would like to see “My dad really loved this spot” rather than a quote - it gives a lot more insight into why the bench is there.