Madalyn Murray O’Hair, the controversial founder of American Atheists, was murdered in 1995 along with her son Jon and her granddaughter Robin. Their remains were eventually found and buried — but there was no gravestone to mark the location. In fact, we still don’t know where their remains are. (Maybe it’s for the best, since there are many theists who would want to desecrate that site.)
Last year, Joe Zamecki helped raise $500 to purchase a memorial brick for them and, as of today, that brick is finally in place. It’s located at Lou Neff Point in Zilker Park in Austin, Texas — the money went to the Trail Foundation, which helps improve/upgrade biking and hiking trails in the city. The brick is only symbolic, obviously, but it’s the only memorial that exists in honor of the O’Hairs:
Joe writes:
… So this memorial brick stands in place of a proper gravestone on their grave, and as far as I know, it’s the only physical memorial in public, to the Murray-O’Hairs. It’s far away from their grave, but it exists, and its ours.
… This is a long time coming, and we can be proud that it’s a respectable way to memorialize them. All three of them sacrificed and worked tirelessly for many years as a team of Atheist activists who got things done. So here is a memorial brick in public for them, and for the movement.
There’s no reason to vandalize the brick, but knowing the sort of disgust O’Hair generated, you have to fear the worst…