"in memory of"

OK, what is with this half ass formality of taking the time to recognize someone for their accomplishments AFTER they are dead?  Is this persons life just worthless until then?  I mean the person is dead now its not liek they really care anymore.  Oh well we just recognize this person for sake of their surviving family.  WTF?  There seems to be this misconception that there is more honor in doing it this way. 

Now you can look at this in a variety of situations.  Anything from a military ceremony, inheritance in a family, or a city naming a street after someone.  Why cant this be done while the person is alive?  Let them see and feel the appreciation that is being displayed.  "oh thank you for honoring my dead father, why the hell didnt you do it earlier when he could SEE IT".  Dumbasses all of them. 

As for myself i simply dont care what the world is going to do after im dead.  What does it matter at that point seriously?  My town just recently decided to name an alley (yes a frickin alley) after a vet who recently died of cancer.  Why did he have to die of the cancer before honoring him with an alley?  Is there some hidden nobility in dying from cancer?  I don't think so. 

Now from the military perspective i understand that its a little difficult to honor certain acts of heroism as the person typically dies in the process.  But for everything else there really is no excuse.  My Grandfather once said that while an inheritance is typically distributed after death, if you are able, it should start being distributed while alive.  So that you can take pleasure in what they do with it and perhaps even enjoy the moment with them.  There is simply too much that goes on after death that is simply labeled "in memory of".  Are accomplishments or actions any less significant during life?  Do they have to gain equity to be worth anything?  If i impact a persons life for the better or save a life, is that action worth more later than at that moment? 

Its pure laziness and stupidity if you ask me.  Ask yourself.  We all have some person in our lives that we would like to honor for the impact they had in our lives or for some other reason.  I would rather be able to honor that person while they are alive so they can feel the appreciation and share in the moment of recognition.  It is almost pointless to recognize them at all after death.  Kind of like a belated birthday card. 

If i do anything worthy of any kind of recognition and someone waits until after im dead to make mention...don't bother.  Recognize me while im alive, then remember me when im dead.