In the backyard of a small yellow house in Ashland, Alex Landt is covered in sawdust. He grew up in Ashland and now works at a salvaged redwood mill in Crescent City. He鈥檚 sanding down a 10-foot-long slab of redwood.
Landt touches the slab after sanding it to check his progress. After just an hour of sanding, it鈥檚 already much smoother.
The entire slab weighs around 200 pounds, according to Landt. He sits on it and bounces it up and down.
鈥淵ou could have a dance party on it,鈥� he says. 鈥淣othing鈥檚 gonna happen to the slab. It鈥檚 solid.鈥�
This giant piece of wood is being finished to become a memorial bench, in honor of one of Landt鈥檚 childhood friends, Taliesin Myrddin Namkai-Meche. Namkai-Meche was one of three victims from a stabbing attack on the Portland MAX light-rail in 2017.
Landt and Namkai-Meche both grew up in Ashland. Landt says he remembers when he was in first grade, Namkai-Meche, a preschooler, approached him and they would soon become dear friends.
鈥淚 think that for both of us we just found kindred spirits in each other,鈥� he says.
The two began playing together in Ashland鈥檚 Lithia Park. Namkai-Meche lived right across the street, and they would act like the park was their own massive front yard.
鈥淭here was a bamboo grove by upper duck pond,鈥� Landt says. 鈥淎nd these were areas that, as little kids, we would disappear into and make forts and play.鈥�
In 2017, Namkai-Meche was 23 and working in Portland when he stepped-in to protect two young girls facing a tirade of racist and anti-Muslim slurs from Jeremy Joseph Christian while riding the MAX light-rail.
Namkai-Meche, along with Ricky Best and Micah Fletcher, tried to de-escalate the situation. Christian fatally stabbed Namkai-Meche and Best, and Fletcher suffered serious injuries.
Namkai-Meche鈥檚 death was quickly felt by the many people he left an impression on throughout his life.
鈥淚t鈥檚 like a part of myself died that day too really,鈥� says Landt. 鈥淏ecause our closeness really was something special.鈥�
Landt says he still thinks about the last time he saw his friend. Over time, they grew physically farther apart, but he says when they would meet up, that friendship was just as strong as ever.
鈥淭he last time we got to hang out we went backpacking. And it was a really hilarious trip,鈥� he says. 鈥淪ome of my biggest regrets in life have to do with Tilly, knowing that he鈥檚 passed now. Moments where we chose not to see each other.鈥�
The memorial site
Landt walks to a pair of redwood trees in Lithia Park, just past the Japanese garden. It鈥檚 where the memorial bench will be installed.
Standing between the two trees, he stretches out his arms wide to show where the bench will go.
鈥淭he plan is to cut as close as possible and to use blocks to block it up,鈥� says Landt. 鈥淏ut that in the future, the trees will naturally grab the bench and hold it there.鈥�
Asha Deliverance is Namkai-Meche鈥檚 mother. She still lives on the same street where he grew up, right across from the park. Deliverance says these two redwood trees have been important to Namkai-Meche since before he was even born.
鈥淭his is where I met with Taliesin鈥檚 father for the first time as a romantic adventure. And we kissed under these trees,鈥� she says. 鈥淎nd when Alex told me that he chose these trees to put the memorial bench for Taliesin, I was like, 鈥楾hat is perfect.鈥欌��
Deliverance says her son took on difficult challenges, but had a heart of gold.
鈥淚t wasn鈥檛 a surprise to me at all when they told me his last words on the train were, 鈥楾ell everyone on this train I love them,鈥欌�� Deliverance says.
She says Namkai-Meche鈥檚 greatest legacy is the way he died, protecting a Muslim girl and taking a stand against racism and Islamophobia.
Landt still thinks of his friend as he continues through life, including raising his own child.
鈥淭alieshin has and does continue to shape my decisions,鈥� he says. 鈥淚f I鈥檓 ever wondering, I think, 鈥榃hat would Tilly do? How would Tilly react or interact in this situation?鈥欌��
鈥淚t wasn鈥檛 a surprise to me at all when they told me his last words on the train were, 鈥楾ell everyone on this train I love them.鈥欌��Asha Deliverance
As Landt looks at the spot where the redwood bench will be, he says it feels right. He says this is a good way for Namkai-Meche鈥檚 legacy to be seen by others.
鈥淚 hope they feel love,鈥� says Landt. 鈥淚 think at the fundamental root of our human existence is the choice between love and fear. And I hope that when people come to this bench they feel that.鈥�
Landt says he wants this bench to not be just a memorial, but a place for family and friends of Namkai-Meche to gather and reflect on how he touched their lives.
A ceremony at the memorial site is planned for May 26, the sixth anniversary of the day Namkai-Meche gave up his life to protect others.
