OUR VIEW: Butterfly memorial a fitting tribute

• OUR VIEW

OUR VIEW

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If anything can be learned from the tragic accident March 24 in Mitchell, it’s that drinking and driving can be deadly.

It was on that day that young Iszabella Morgan died when the vehicle in which she was riding was struck by a vehicle driven by an intoxicated driver, Michael Sedlmeier.

Sedlmeier received a 40-year prison sentence for his role in the mishap, but it doesn’t help those who mourn Morgan’s death.

That’s why we’re glad to see that some Mitchell residents are working to create a memorial for Morgan, to be placed at Northridge Park. The plan for Bella’s Butterfly Garden was unveiled to the public earlier this week. When complete, the memorial not only will remind friends and family of the girl, but also that drinking and driving is a poor life choice with potentially devastating consequences.

There was talk of renaming a street in honor of Morgan. Frankly, we didn’t like that idea.

And we originally felt that renaming Northridge Park for Morgan was a feasible and fitting memorial to the girl, but we changed our minds when we learned that the park already was named for a family — not a geographic location.

Now fundraising has started for Bella’s Butterfly Garden. The project will cost about $10,000, with the family hoping to raise about half. Those who wish to donate are asked to send an email to bellasbutterflygarden@gmail.com.

This terrible accident is still fresh in the minds of Mitchell residents. The unfortunate truth is that someday, it will fade from local memory, and future generations really won’t know much, if anything, about that sad day in March 2012.

However, this memorial will be a lasting reminder of what happened. And we hope children in future generations will stand before the memorial and decide right then and there to not drink and drive.

Tags: iszabella morgan, opinion, updates, editorials, butterfly, garden, local, mitchell