Caltrans Highway Worker's Memorial - Fresno, CA
Posted by: 
DopeyDuck
N 36° 45.471 W 119° 49.614
11S E 247648 N 4071737
This memorial to the fallen CalTrans highway workers of District 6 appropriately depicts an orange highway cone.
Waymark Code: WM6M7F
Location: California, United States
Date Posted: 06/19/2009
Views: 21
The Plaque reads:
"The David Lee Baldridge
Highway Worker's Memorial
in Loving Memory of the Fallen
Highway Workers of District 6"
Special thanks to fresgo for adding some history about this location in his log entry:
"Great Waymark here is an excerpt from the employee newsletter.
"In the summer of 2007, one of the many Redwood trees surrounding the District 6 Office was determined to be diseased and in need of removal. Taking the shape of the tree and its dimension into consideration, it was suggested that some type of memorial to symbolize the Fallen Highway Workers of District 6 could be created using the leftover tree stump. A small committee was formed with David “Dave” Lee Baldridge, Staff Services Manager II, leading the way. Dave quickly enlisted the help of others to come up with ideas on how to fund this carving project and make it a reality. The committee determined the tree could be fashioned into a cone, with a raised black band and the Caltrans logo carved directly into it.
The tree held special meaning, not only to Dave, who kindly nicknamed the tree his ‘smokin tree’ but also to many of his staff. During stressful situations, or just an opportunity to stop and take a breath of fresh air, he and his staff could be seen by this tree. On rare occasions, if Dave needed to have a one-on-one conversation with a staff member, they would walk out to this tree.
Dave always began those conversations with, “I love this tree”. Unfortunately on September 29, 2007. Dave passed away, leaving his wife, son, daughter, and his Caltrans family behind. Dave began his career with Caltrans as an Electrical Maintenance Worker. He loved working in Maintenance and would share fond memories of his experiences Maintenance was a big part of Dave’s life even though he currently worked under the Administration Division. Dave constantly reminded all who would listen to the main principles of leadership, “Never forget where you came from.” Dave always wanted to give something back and was elated with the idea of making his favorite tree into a memorial for Caltrans fallen workers. Carving began December 2007 and the Redwood tree was transformed into a District 6 Highway Worker’s Memorial.""
Sector of the workforce: CalTrans Highway Workers
Created or Donated by which group: Don Huston
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