In the town of Rome in northwest Georgia, a mortuary company has come up with a rather macabre (but effective) way to warn the public of the dangers of driving while under the influence of drugs.For 10 years now, the McGuire, Jennings and Miller Funeral Home has promoted Operation Stop and Think, a publicity campaign that offers free funerals for fools who kill themselves by drunk driving.
Barry Miller, who lost a family member to a drunken driver, said they offered the service in the hopes that it will cause people to stop and think before they drink and drive. "This contract is only a tool to get people's attention. We are trying to get them to stop and think and do the responsible thing. We don't want anyone else to go through what our family has."
In order to qualify for a free funeral, one must go to the funeral home with their next of kin with a copy of one's valid driver's license and a funeral plan. The customer then writes letters to their loved ones explaining why they plan to put their lives at risk by drinking and driving on New Year's Eve.
With these conditions, it's hardly a surprise that no one has ever signed up for the free funeral plan. But who knows how many discussions the stunt has stimulated in living rooms, school rooms, and even bar rooms -- discussions that have led to people reconsidering their New Year's Eve activities.
I'm sure that some are offended by the mortuary's campaign, thinking it in poor taste and lacking the proper "sobriety" for such a business. But the owners of McGuire, Jennings and Miller Funeral Home are willing to risk a few upraised eyebrows for the sake of something far more important. They are trying to keep business from coming their way...by keeping people alive and well. I applaud their efforts.
