They are numerous enough to notice, infrequent enough to startle at seeing, and; they stimulate reverence, sorrow, sympathy, curiosity, and caution. They affect us all to one degree or another. They are the white crosses that mark the sites of fatal traffic accidents along the highways of Montana. For over 50 years, these white crosses have reminded passing motorist of the dangers of the road, as well as the lives, that have been lost on these highways.

The Montana American Legion White Cross Highway Fatality Marker Program began in 1953. The unique idea of marking fatal traffic accident sites with a white cross was the brain child of Floyd Eaheart, a member of the American Legion Hellgate Post #27, Missoula, Montana; after six lives were lost in the Missoula area over the 1952 Labor Day Holiday. The safety program started out as a county and later district project for the Missoula American Legion Post. However, the idea was so good that it was soon adopted as a statewide program. The Montana Highway Commission (now Department of Transportation) approved the program in January 1953, with the blessing of the then 13th governor of Montana, J. Hugo Aronson (the Galloping Swede). E. A. "Gene" King from Livingston was the American Legion Department Commander at that time. Louis
Babb was the Assistant Adjutant for the Department of Montana during this time, and was instrumental in getting it started. He appeared before the Montana Highway Commission and convinced them to adopt the American Legion White Cross Safety Program. With this authorization, most of the 132 Montana American Legion Posts participated in the white cross program. Floyd Eaheart, the man who conceived the program, served as the state white cross chairman for the first several years.

However, this safety program was not acknowledged in writing until a Letter of Instruction was signed by the then director of the MDOT, David A. Galt, on November 5, 2001. In January 2007 the then director of the MDOT, Jim Lynch, was instrumental in getting the American Legion Highway Fatality Marker Program included on the 2007-2008 Official Montana Highway Map. This provided the American Legion with a lot of visibility and publicity. In November 2007, Mr. Lynch approved the construction and installation of 5' by 13' highway signs on all 25 highway entrances to Montana. These huge Blue and White signs state that the White Marker Program is "Maintained by the American Legion of Montana." It was also in 2007 that the name of the grogram was changed from the "White Cross" to the "Fatality Marker" Safety Program.

MONTANA AMERICAN LEGION HIGHWAY FATALITY MARKER PROGRAM

GENERAL INFORMATION

The program is intended as a highway safety not a memorial program. Still, many families place wreaths or other decorations on the white crosses, which may be considered a memorial to a loved one lost in an accident. Obstruction of the white marker with these decorations defeats the purpose of the safety program. Attaching them below the cross on the metal pole is acceptable. The white markers serve as a public service message, reminding drivers to "Please Drive Carefully." They are a sobering reminder of a fatal traffic accident, a place where a human being lost his/her life.

The American Legion's Fatality Markers can be found within the borders of Montana, along state and federal highways, secondary and forest service roads and even city streets. One white marker is erected for each traffic fatality. The markers are made of 4" metal and painted white. They are mounted on metal poles painted red. Each white marker is 12" wide and 16" long. The white marker is supposed to be 4 to 5 feet above the ground to improve visibility and aid in road maintenance.

Not all highway fatalities are marked. Not all of the 134 American Legion Posts in Montana currently participate in the program. Some areas of Montana do not have a local American Legion Post. Because of these two reasons many stretches of Montana highways do not have fatality markers where a fatal accident has occurred. Also, when a highway is reconstructed and corrects what may have been the cause of the fatality, all markers are removed. In these cases, only those fatality markers, specifically requested by a family member are replaced. In addition, a family may request that a fatality marker not be erected at the site of a death.