Tribute to a Young Man
James Dean Memorial
His name was James Byron Dean. He was an actor. He died just before sundown on September 30, 1955, when his Porsche collided with another car at a fork in the road not 900 yards east of this tree, long known as The Tree of Heaven. He was 24 years old.
Aside from appearing in several Broadway plays, he starred in three motion pictures - East of Eden, Rebel Without a Cause, and Giant. Only "Eden" had been released before his death. Yet, before he was in his grave, James Dean was already a legend. Every day, somewhere in the world, at the cimema or on television, James Dean lives on.
He was a youth yearning for one precious touch of warmth between parents and their offspring. He was an individual struggling in his huge land of promise and many races. He was a rebel searching for the cause we must all possess. This young man, seemingly [ ] yet possessing a talent and individuality that were unique in their combination, has come to personify a generation awakened.
Many are those who feel strongly that James Dean should not be forgotten. There are some things, like the hatred that accompanies [ ] that are best forgotten. There are others, like the nobler qualities of Man, to which this young actor directed our attention, that be preserved for all time.
James Dean is all the more with us today because his life was so fleeting. In Japan we say that his death came as suddenly as [ ] does [ ] blossoms. The pedals of early spring always fall at the height of their ephemeral brilliance.
Marker is on State Highway 41/46, on the left when traveling south.
Courtesy hmdb.org
