Distinctly Montana Magazine

74 D I S T I N C T LY M O N TA N A M A G A Z I N E • S P R I N G 2 0 2 4 American Legion for the past two years. "In the agreement we have with MDT, if they fix or maintain the road, the marker comes down unless the family of the person who died there asks to have it put back up." The markers are installed and maintained by members of the Montana American Legion's 117 posts, as well as the greater American Legion family, which includes groups such as the Sons of the American Legion and the American Legion Auxiliary, among others. "Most of the posts have some level of involvement with the fatality marker program," Long notes. "We have really good coverage around the state overall." He estimates that somewhere between 200 and 300 members of the 9,800-member Montana American Legion are actively working on the program. As far as anyone can tell, Montana's HFMP is the only project of its kind in existence. "We get a lot of people commenting on it, espe- cially from out of state," Long notes. "I was at a rest area a while back and someone asked me about all of the crosses they were seeing along the highway, so I ex- plained what they are all about. They were re- ally amazed and hadn't ever seen a program like this." The program's chairman, Michael Emett, says there are as many as 50 crosses posted over a 35-mile stretch in one area of the state. "It has an impact on people," Long adds. "It causes awareness that we need to be vigilant while driving. It makes us stop and think, especially when you see a whole bunch of them in one area. That means a lot of people died in this stretch and drivers really need to pay attention to the road." A stack of fatality markers await restoration Map showing locations of all highway fatality markers in the state PHOTO COURTESY OF AMERICAN LEGION OF MONTANA

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