North/South Divide

I think I spotted a cultural difference between the North and the South in an article in the Asheville newspaper. The death of a popular high school senior was reported almost a week ago. She was on her way to work when she veered off the road and died at the scene. This morning there was a picture of the pop-up roadside memorial. The article said there were many “flowers, pictures, and sodas” at the site. I could see flowers, teddy bears, and a basketball, but sodas???? Do people here leave soda cans as part of a memorial? Looking again, I saw both a bottle and a can of Coke, as well as a bag of Doritos.  I’m sure I never spotted food at a memorial in New York.