{"id":3434,"date":"2023-10-21T20:10:26","date_gmt":"2023-10-21T18:10:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newzdiscover.com\/?p=3434"},"modified":"2023-10-21T20:10:26","modified_gmt":"2023-10-21T18:10:26","slug":"dad-secretly-sets-up-memorial-for-his-son-13-years-later-he-finds-a-note-from-a-billionaire","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newzdiscover.com\/?p=3434","title":{"rendered":"Dad secretly sets up memorial for his son \u2013 13 years later, he finds a note from a billionaire"},"content":{"rendered":"

I don\u2019 think anyone ever really stops mourning the loss of a family member.<\/p>\n

And while you might not be able to meet your loved one again physically, by visiting their grave or memorial, you can at least feel their presence for a while.<\/p>\n

Ray Olson lost his son, Raymond, in a 2003 car accident on a road in Richmond, California. The 22-year-old was killed by a drunk driver.<\/p>\n

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\nYoutube \/ NBC<\/p>\n

The land where Raymond was killed was owned by the multi-billion dollar company Chevron, and Ray was so sure the company would never let him put up an official memorial that he didn\u2019t even ask.<\/p>\n

Instead, he secretly set up a memorial there and visited it every night. Until one day, Ray got a shocking message from the company: the area was going to be redeveloped.<\/p>\n

For years, a plot of land in Richmond, California owned by energy giant Chevron hosted a mysterious roadside memorial. No one had any idea who set it up and maintained it, reports NBC News.<\/p>\n

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\nYoutube \/ NBC<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019d see that it was being maintained, but we\u2019d never see who was maintaining it,\u201d Chevron executive Joe Lorenz said.<\/p>\n

It turned out the memorial\u2019s caretaker was Ray Olson. He visited the site nightly for more than 12 years to honor his son, who had died in a car accident on that very spot.<\/p>\n

Then in 2016, Ray\u2019s heart was broken. He learned that the area was going to be redeveloped. According to Chevron, the property needed an upgrade and so they posted a note and left it at the memorial, urging the anonymous caretaker to contact the energy giant.<\/p>\n

Then, Ray Olson finally decided to step forward. He was sure Chevron would tear down his memorial and his memories along with it.<\/p>\n

\u201dI just knew they were going to take it down,\u201d Olson said.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

But he certainly never imagined that the company would set up a new memorial in its place. Yet sure enough, the company put up a plaque honoring Ray\u2019s son and placed a bench beside it for grieving visitors like Ray.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe said, \u2018This is your spot, Ray. You no longer have to come at night,\u201d Joe Lorenz from Chevron told NBC News and added:<\/p>\n

The company contacted Cesar Zepeda, president of the neighborhood council, and asked if the could collaborate to create a permanent memorial.<\/p>\n

\u201cKnowing that you\u2019ve given life and hope to a father \u2026 and knowing that you make somebody\u2019s life better, it\u2019s an amazing, amazing feeling to have,\u201d Zepeda said.<\/p>\n