Preserve Mike Edmonds' Legacy: Save His Memorial Bench

Title: Saving my Dad's Memorial Bench from the city of Long Beach : A Story of Love and Legacy

Almost 2 decades ago my mom fulfilled her husband's final wish by erecting a memorial bench in his honor. This wasn't just any bench; it was a testament to a life well-lived, a tribute to a man who had left an indelible mark on the hearts of those who knew him and a place to share with those he never got to meet the incredible man he was.

Mike Edmonds, a passionate surfer and devoted family man, had left this world too soon, taken by the waves he loved so much. He and my mom met in high school at the age of 15 and were inseparable. As you can imagine the sudden passing of my dad so young in life was earth shattering for her and my brother and I. His bench has been a place to go to feel connected to him, remember stories and share memories with those that never got to meet him like his three grandchildren and son in law. My husband chose to propose at my dad’s bench as a place he felt my dad could be a part of that very special with us. This bench is more than a place to sit with a plaque of someone’s name spelt out on it; it is a place where my dads spirit can linger on the shores, in the laughter of his wife, children, grandchildren and in the tender memories shared by all when they visit.

For nearly two decades, my dads (Michael Edmonds) bench stood as a sanctuary—a place where grief turned into solace, where tears turned into laughter as stories of his adventures were shared. It was a beacon of hope for his widow, a refuge for his children, and a testament to the enduring power of love.

But then, a cruel twist of fate threatened to tear it all away. The city of Long Beach, in a heartless act of bureaucracy, demanded exorbitant fees of $12,000 every 10 years moving forward for the bench's upkeep and ownership. To my mom, it felt like a betrayal of everything her husband stood for—a betrayal of love, of memory, of everything they had built together.

Determined to fight for my dad’s legacy, I reached out for help, hoping that the power of community and compassion could sway the hearts of those blinded by greed. I shared my dads story and that of the bench, hoping to ignite a spark of empathy in the hearts of strangers demand justice for my dad’s bench.

And though Mike may have left this world, his spirit lives on, in the timeless beauty of a bench that bore his name.