Jul 2, 2009 9:12 pm US/Central
Family Fights To Keep Roadside Memorial Up
BLUE EARTH, Minn. (WCCO) ―
-
-
A family in southern Minnesota lost a son in a car accident and now, more than two years later, the county says their roadside memorial has to go.
CBS
A family in southern Minnesota lost a son in a car accident and now, more than 2 years later, the county says their roadside memorial has to go.
But the family feels is fighting to keep their son's tribute.
"My son's name is John Johnson and this is the last place that he was alive," said Craig Johnson, Josh's father. "This is him. It's all we got left."
Roadside memorials can take many forms, but the one for Josh is pretty unusual -- concrete blocks, a rock garden and fresh plants that are tended to weekly.
This is the tribute to Josh who died after his pickup rolled and he was thrown down the embankment early on a Sunday morning, May 20, 2007 just outside Blue Earth.
"This is where everybody stops and visits. You don't get the young people going to the cemetery," said Craig. "I just come out here and sit and think, think about the old memories."
But a couple weeks ago, the Faribault County Engineer sent a letter to the family, saying the memorial is a hazard and should be removed.
But the Johnson's can't understand that. It's down an embankment on a lightly traveled road.
The county engineer who wrote the letter is out of town and his office wouldn't comment about the memorial. However, the county commissioner for that district said the law in Faribault County is that roadside memorials must be removed within six months.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
Click to enlarge
Stumble It!
Reporting
