Some cultures [in this case, Celtic] believe your soul “remains” at the place you actually died.
For 13 years, I maintained a small wooden Celtic cross where a good friends was run down by a cager.
Every year on the anniversary, we visited, “spilled beer” [his favorite brand] on the spot and said a prayer for his soul.
Every Hallowe’en night, [when the Celts believe the “veil between the worlds” is at its thinnest, I would light a 24 hour votive candle and just sit for a while.
Both he and I are/were Christians but we honored our Celtic roots, as well.
The “memorial” itself was small, not visually distracting and I doubt that most drivers even knew it was there.
But I did.
I’ve never seen any locally that went beyond a simple, small cross and perhaps some flowers placed for holidays, now and again.
They don’t bother me.
In fact, I pay token memory the stranger who died there and wish their family and loved ones peace.
YMMV.
It’s public space so everyone is welcome to use it.
Place a small unnoticeable marker, mark it on your GPS, whatever.
The problem is the shoulder filling garbage pile variety. This is nothing but hazardous litter that should be removed by the first ‘community service technician’ that passes by.
Your post is sweet and heartfelt......I agree with you.