Leaving a Memento for Carl Sagan

[bailesie]

I just got back from a visit to Carl's grave and am uploading the video as we speak. The rocks and momentos around his grave were absolutely touching... Right in the middle of his grave is a little stone that reads, "Teach" - As corny as it sounds, I cried when I saw his headstone surrounded with such reverence. I can't help but get choked up over how many lives he touched and what a wonderful teacher he was and is to this very day.

I wish I could have met him, but I think we all have in a way.

[N4SONIC]

Personally, I would be delighted if there were a life after death, especially if it permitted me to continue to learn about this world and others, if it gave me a chance to discover how history turns out. - Carl Sagan. We miss you Carl, as long as there are people on the pale blue dot, they will know who you were, Rest In Peace old friend :).

[WilliamRachuy]

I feel a bit blue.

[rsexplorer20]

When i am older i going to go to his grave to thank him for getting me out of ignorance and into the light of science and leave him a blue rock

RIP Carl Sagan

[thoof2001]

Thank you for placing upon Carl's gravestone a pale blue dot . . .

[BronzeHead]

Shit man, I'm tearing up over here

[macleod57]

You sir win life itself.

[bailesie]

What a very noble gesture, leaving a momento. Sagan had an enormous impact on my development and love for science growing up. I only wish that I could have met him in person - He truly was (and is, to me) a remarkable and humble man. I think everyone should take a page from his book of life; his appreciation for every aspect of life and science is absolutely contagious, and I know that even in the distant future he will still influence young inquisitive children.

RIP Carl. Venture to the stars

[DrewMacTV]

I got shivers just seeing his grave. Its truly remarkable to imagine such a beautiful mind to go away like that, but its humbling to know we are still connected atomically to these vast and mysterious cosmos he spent his whole life researching.

[LeWoVoc]

There's something inherently beautiful about this video. Whether it's the expression of appreciation to one of the world's most brilliantly moving men, or the pure poetic thought of my personal idol returning to the earth, I don't know--but I was honestly moved to tears. Thank you for this.

[Anomki]

Some cannabis seeds where planted at him memorial marker at the University of Mn as well...he approved of cannabis/hemp/ganja (aka marijuana).

[yout10101012]

hummph. i woulda guessed that CS would've been cremated (and perhaps shot into space one day).

[Ananjeix]

Beautiful

[Carlsagan93]

what was the thing that you left?

[FyreDeity]

Google Pale Blue Dot ;)

You'll understand what makes this vid so awesome. =)

[Carlsagan93]

I've seen it. But what I asked was:

what was the thing that he left? or

Did I ask something alse?

I do not remeber

[SaganAppreciationSoc]

It's a small piece of blue glass.

[MelleB90]

a "pale blue dot" if you will :)

beautiful

[SaganAppreciationSoc]

I checked on Carl's grave Monday night and another small brilliant blue rock has been left by persons unknown. Wish we knew who these people were.

[fctchk]

Mr. Sagan now enjoys relief from the billions and billions of cretins who just dont get it.

By the way, interestingly, as to the etymology of the word "cretin", the most common derivation is from the Alpine French dialect pronunciation of the word Chrétien - (a) Christian.

[Heidcast]

a Pale Blue Dot...

thank you!

H

[Arfipuss]

How's this for irony? It's my sincere hope that our children or grandchildren can erect a similar memorial in another place like Mars. How is that for someone's legacy living on?!

[SaganAppreciationSoc]

In the Enterprise series, there is a Carl Sagan memorial Station right where the Mars Rover stopped. We'll have have a framegrab on the SAS site when it goes public. If you go here: watch?v=xZZX6cnMfKU

or search YT for:

planetfest 1997 dan goldin ann druyan carl sagan

you will find the basis in fact for such an idea.

[somnium23]

What type of material is the actual grave stone made out of? Is it black pearl, with the polished mica shining in different spots, or is it just a solid black type? I want a similar looking site for my mother, maybe a little raised stone instead of completely flat, who I have delayed in getting a marker for a while now since passing December 25 '06, from not knowing quite what should be there, and from not having a lot of time, working so much. I would appreciate knowing the details, thanks:)

[somnium23]

The blue stone looks like it belongs there, like it matches the gravestone; embedded and made that way to begin with.

[oscarslin]

First in spanish:

La verdad es que lloré cuando vi tu video, nadie me ha inspirado más en la vida que Carl. Su forma de ver la vida y su lugar en el Cosmos me hace sentir humilde y grande a la vez. Gracias por el video!

English:

The truth is that I cried when I saw your video, nobody has inspired more in my life than Carl. His ways of see the life and their place in the Cosmos make me feel humble and big at the same time. Thanks for the video!

Saludos desde México!

Carl We all miss you :(

[hamauta]

That was sweet

a fan

[paboniux]

C. Sagan forever

[ice2drinks]

My respects and admiration Mr. Sagan. Wherever you are. RIP Mr. Sagan

[DaniboyBR2]

He was brillant!

Im a follower and live my life using him as a reference.

Long life Carl Sagan.

[delpoz10]

Dear YouTube friends:I AM A SINNER!WHO ISN'T? I am a vegetarian,I love animals.Human beings have free will to devise their own fate.There are truths that aren't in the Bible,the Koran,or any holy writs.Animals are God's creation.Jesus Christ did not kill animals.Or did He?I'll have the endless pleasure to meet hunters,sealers,whalers,meat eaters,fur/leather wearing people in HELL.I'll welcome them very warmly.We'll have the entire eternity to settle account with Devil.

(STOP KILLING ANIMALS!)

[fatmeteor]

it looks like the devils have you possessed.

[delpoz09]

Dear YouTube friends: Mr. Carl Sagan was a genius. His death was premature. He had a lot to give to mankind, to enlighten people. Never mind. I do think he is in Heaven with billions of animals, people, and the stars he loved so much. Unfortunaltely, I was not able to meet him. Perhaps, one day I will have the pleasure and privilege. GOD BLESS YOU!

(PEOPLE PLEASE STOP KILLING ANIMALS!STOP EATING MEAT! STOP WEARING FUR/LEATHER!ThankyouAdemar)

[dougnorb]

Carl was an idiot. He certainly would not accept you blessing, and he did what any human who thinks he knows something of the universe does, speculate. Incorrectly I might add. I love animals, they taste delicious, and keep me warm! Afterall, it is Gods design!

[SaganAppreciationSoc]

I can't say i ascribe to Ademar's religious comments, but as for your pro-animal comments, Carl was the student advisor for the Cornell Students for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. When i asked Ann Druyan about the story of Carl giving up his leather jacket, she said she thought he'd gotten to the point where she didn't think he'd ever buy another leather one.

[torysj]

Thanks for the story about the leather jacket, I have always thought he looked so cool in that one.

[SaganAppreciationSoc]

I've heard that he was fond of it, but a reporter told me that he gave up the leather jacket for ethical reasons. Would be very nice if true. Ann wasn't able to recall if that was the case.

[SaganAppreciationSoc]

Ann did however tell me she thought Carl had gotten to the point where he would never have bought another leather jacket however.

[robm1969]

Thank you

[Rhonda9]

Speechless. Thank you for posting this video.

[kjg28]

Ok, here's an update. So I'm not sure when you visited, but I was just at his grave this Nov 9th to commemorate his birthday (I'm a senior at Cornell right now). From what I can tell, I believe your marble is still there, but the papers are not. I added a large stone that I colored blue to the collection...

[kjg28]

...And for those of you who would like to visit, the graveyard is on a slight incline/hill. Near the top, in the small Jewish section is where Carl, both of his parents, and Anne's mother, Pearl is. When you are walking up the path, it is located to your left. Hopefully that will be helpful--I spent a long time trying to find it myself. :-)

[SardonicusRexx]

I almost drove down on the 9th for a Sagan function but postponed it by request. I still thought about heading down to pay respects but didn't. :-( Did you get any pics of his grave & momentos for the "archeology" archives? It's so interesting seeing momentos that people left over the months/years, and seeing what endures or doesn't. Was the lil blue plastic frog still there?

[SaganAppreciationSoc]

I saw your stone, and the message on it's bottom. You're pretty cool. :-)

[TaYLOR182MEST]

thank u so much for the message and for this video. I eventually intend to visit his grave too.

[cowndelorean]

Thats what I call a tribute... thanks for share

but, where is it?

[SardonicusRexx]

Many thanks. You should visit Ithaca if you can, and see his monument on The Commons, visit his grave and see his house over the gorge. This was shot in the Lakeview cemetery. My other vids show you how to find his plot.

[glorp896]

@SardonicusRexx i'll be buried a bit north of carl in syracuse, but no pale blue dots for me... my resonating voice never earned the respect of the cosmic fugue like carl's... but i did ace a class in college called LIFE IN THE UNIVERSE (astronomy dept.) and i stayed at a holiday inn express once

- but more seriously, i credit COSMOS in the early 80s and carl's idea of an INFINITE REGRESS as being a pretty well planted seed of distrust of the god idea, not to mention asimov around the same time

[glorp896]

@SardonicusRexx yes, Saint Carl in his BOOK OF CARL (Cosmos) doth save me from the eternal plight of religious dogma... Praise be Sagan, Ave Sagan, Rege Sagan... All Hail Sagan, Heil Sagan! Saganites unite! - got any other neato mottos, chants, mantras or otherwise to edify this best of all popularizing science guys? i mean Bill Nye, Kaku, or who? we haven't had a pop science guy match carl's influence yet... not even Einstein before him? or Galileo? or Aristotle (wait, hardly science...

[TroggDoor]

Wonderful.  What was it that you left?

[SardonicusRexx]

A small blue piece of crafting glass. A rerence/homage to his book, The Pale Blue Dot.

[TroggDoor]

Lovely. I knew my last relationship was doomed when she couldn't manage sitting through Cosmos.

[SardonicusRexx]

I feel for you man. I wasn't "spiritual" enough for my ex-girlfriend. She kind of let me know it was a sticking point. I had hoped to share the Sagan-Druyan brand of "spirituality" with her, but never got the chance to share Cosmos with her. Her loss. But mine too.

[ziczoc]

Respectful (and with the snow falling) - I like it. Thank you for that.

[gedeonm]

Nice and fitting. Thanks for sharing that.

[dreamcatweaver]

Aw the small blue dot. Nice touch.

[phenixwryter]

What a wonderful tribute.  Thanks for sharing!

[Chiren]

cool

[mightybroke]

Very nice! 5 stars! :)

[SardonicusRexx]

Support what? The secreted stealth monument? Or The Gathering?

[pr0t0color]

Damn. . .I cried. . .

[shakanunu]

Hard to believe he's actually dead.The good die too young.If anyone deserved to live to be a hundred, it was Sagan.

[captaingrogan]

This has to be one of the great pilgrimages of life (perhaps more for me because I'm on the other side of the world) but when I finally get to Ithaca, I will thank you for being my cartographer and leading me there. You could not have made your film at a more apt time. Five thousand billion snowflakes and one pale blue piece of glass. Brilliant.

[SardonicusRexx]

I'd missed the symbolism beyond the small blue dot. Thanks. If you're coming from around the world, drop me a line in advance. I'll make a point of taking you on the grand tour. just tonight i found out about 3 guys who made the pilgrimage all the way from Chile! They didn't find Carl. 2 returned some time later and found him.

[SCIFI2010]

I have added your video as one of my all time favorites. The information about the coordinates is priceless. Thanks again for sharing!!

[ren1997]

Carl Sagan, my teacher.

[dubhlaoich]

Legend. Nothing more needs to be said.

[DRpokeme]

He never sat in Newtons Chair, but changed the way millions of people saw the stars. He lifted us up. He made us think not just about oursleves but about what if!. He was a good man.

[gmatalkah]

nice video ..thanks

Is this in Lakeview cemetery in Ithaca? .. I went there last summer and tried to find his grave but unfortunately I could. I didn't have enough time I arrived there 30 minutes before dark. can u tell me how did u find it?

[SardonicusRexx]

It isn't easy to find. Take a look at my other vids where I show more precisely how to find his grave. Or drop me a private email.

[glorp002]

this is probably one of the most emotional 13 seconds i've ever seen on screen.

[SardonicusRexx]

Thanks. That means a lot to me. And probably something to the extended Sagan family we have here on YouTube.

[hdtvlat]

Me conmueve enormemente ver el sitio donde yacen los restos de un hombre que ha inspirado mi vida y la de toda una generación.

Daniel Marmolejo.

[SardonicusRexx]

Rough translation (I think):

It enormously affects me to see the site where the man lies who has inspired my life and a whole the generation.

[32BitDistro]

yes its very correct :)

"It touchs my heart to see the site where the man lies who has inspired my life and a whole generation." What do u think, better or worse? SEEYA !!! WOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

[SPIRO74]

I remember the very day Carl passed away.Such a sad day in my life. I am very lucky to have had been born in the same lifetime as his to see such a brilliant mind at work .You will never know what kind of impact you have had on my life. R.I.P.

[HotRatt]

Never a so small video makes me cry like this

[HotRatt]

Never a so small video makes me cry like this.

[xxxaero]

What a tragic loss to humankind... RIP Carl Sagan, you will never be forgotten.

[croxxus]

One of the biggest loss in human history. Thank you Dr. Sagan, thank you for everything.

[wolf2dragon]

Wow, he has a very beautiful site. Wonderful...and yet, sad. :(

[SardonicusRexx]

I thought his site was very minimalist for a man of his import. I imagine he or his family didn't want to make a big deal. I have dreams of his fans constructing a fitting beacon and secreting it into the cemetery some dark night. Something that says We noticed the life and light of this one human.

[wolf2dragon]

I think a a huge lighthouse that can be seen from space would be fitting. A beacon that even the cosmos cannot ignore. :)

[SardonicusRexx]

As an astronomer, Carl might not approve of the light pollution. I've been thinking about a 2001 monolith shaped monument with solar panel which would use a radio xmitter to transmit prime numbers.

[RobnJake]

Wow! Thank-you for this. I even have a Earth-Looking marble to leave there, the next time I'm in Ithaca.

[icecorescientist]

beautiful setting for his grave.

You just might be the first pilgrim!

[SardonicusRexx]

Far from it I'm happy to say. Scott, a Lakeview volunteer who helped me find Carl's grave said people from as far away as China have come looking for Carl. After removing the snow I found 2 frozen newspapers on Carl's stone- folded with articles about Carl. A Dec. 27th issue of The Ithaca Journal and a Nov issue of the Tompkins County something weekly.

[SardonicusRexx]

There's some video now of vistors who came from Chile to see Carl's grave.

[alien8ted]

Carl's films and books helped me understand how science and rational thought are vital to our culture and how these can free us from superstition and dogma. He did this with such charm, humility and honesty I regard him as one of the greatest humans to have ever lived and he remains a wonderful inspiration to us all.

[joscosm]

wondeful. thanx for this

[drutter]

At first I thought you were desecrating it, or something. And it looked like you were standing over the grave. But then I read your description and realized what the blue object meant. :) Anyway, I doubt he'd care if you did step on his grave. It's not like he's in there - or anywhere - now. Thanks for all your contributions, Carl!

[SardonicusRexx]

Feel free to leave your thoughts and comments on Carl and his contributions to human understanding. Or suggest a better name for this video. :-)

[rrrock6]

What is your momento?

[SardonicusRexx]

It's a small blue piece of crafting glass. I didn't have anything round to symbolize the earth, but it was blue and pretty!