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By Jim Caltagirone
For the Mirror
In my first job as a newspaper reporter, I submitted my copy to an editor who spent a fair amount of his free time walking through local cemeteries.
On occasion, he would enter the newsroom soon after completing one of his treks and, beaming like an explorer who had chanced upon a fascinating discovery, eagerly share interesting facts or bits of trivia which he gleaned from the tombstones and memorials that he had observed.
His experiences were a reminder that cemeteries also function as repositories of inspirational stories, notable accomplishments and historical information.
Similarly, the naming of football fields and basketball courts at colleges and universities across the country is a trending way to immortalize someone's unique contributions and achievements.
Of local interest, it seems obvious that any preliminary discussion of a fitting memorial to Joe Paterno at Penn State would include the option of naming the field at Beaver Stadium.
Paterno influenced the university's advancement in many ways, but the general public most readily identifies him as head coach of the football team.
If conducted properly, debate over what type of memorial should be established for an individual, or whether any memorial should be established at all, is a constructive, collaborative and enlightening process.
In the case of Paterno, if the decision is made to name the football field in his honor, common sense suggests that his statue should be re-installed as well, along with all the plaques and landscaping, in the same fashion and in the same spot.
Otherwise, leaving the statue locked away in a secret location, as if it was some kind of nuclear missile, seems hypocritical.
Survivors of loss seek ways to keep the memories of deceased loved ones alive. So much the better if this can be achieved by creating a visual tribute.
Organizations engaged in fundraising use walls of honor and pavers as means of recognizing donors and commemorating the legacies of the deceased.
Similarly, the sports world is defined by such tributes, including statues of coaches and players and awards and trophies that bear the name of a legend.
John A. Lucas, the late Olympic historian and Penn State Professor Emeritus, once wrote, "None of us in the world of sport are very sure how important anything is that we do ... but we must try to show that certain dimensions of sport, that is sport at certain times and special places, has some importance."
Importance in sport usually means championships, records and milestones which merit universal praise and symbolic recognition, such as a banner with a retired jersey number that hangs from the arena rafters.
Before the era of corporate naming rights, civic-minded officials often chose names for stadiums and arenas that created identification with a city or region or honored the service and sacrifice of veterans.
Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Soldier Field in Chicago, Veterans Stadium in Philadelphia and Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum on Long Island, among others, were all associated with a higher cause.
In relation to the names scrolled in tribute on a football field or basketball court, spectators are required to look down, in order to catch a glimpse.
Those charged with the responsibility of selecting an honoree for such a tribute would do well to remember that the honor should be conferred on someone who everyone can look up to as well.
Jim Caltagirone writes a monthly column for the Mirror.