Posted on 04/16/2019 12:21:32 PM PDT by Responsibility2nd
PALM BAY, Fla. - A family is fighting to keep a memorial built to remember a teenager who died in a car accident in place.
Zach Caufield's grandparents stand where the teenager's family placed a roadside cross at the scene of his accident.
On the night of Jan. 1, the 19-year-old drove off Hoffer Avenue crashing into the Melbourne Tillman Canal system.
His family believes the Heritage High School graduate failed to judge the turn in the road due to darkness and poor lighting and signage.
"He was just an all-around good kid. He had a hug for everybody," Frank Caufield, Zach's grandfather, said.
Friends and neighbors in Palm Bay also contributed to building the memorial which includes a large cross, photographs and ornaments like a fishing rod and Florida Gators sign.
"It just brings us comfort. You know, talk to Zach and talk to God and do what we need to do," Caufield said about his grandson's memorial.
Now, there's an emotional outpouring from a different side Albert Messenger who lives in the neighborhood calls the memorial an eyesore.
"They can grieve, but you know we have cemeteries for that," Messenger said.
The water control district took Messenger's complaint and now authorities are giving the Caufield's one month to take it down.
More than 500 people have signed petitions in support of keeping the memorial standing.
"Apparently, he hasn't suffered as families have suffered," Caufield said in response to Messenger.
"There's no way to explain the pain families feel with that, none at all."
Messenger said he believes there are also people who feel how he does.
"I could probably get a petition going also. I'm not going to waste my time with it," Messenger said. "I just don't see the need to have something like that there," he said.
The family plans to meet with the canal authorities at a board meeting Tuesday, April 23, to discuss their options.
Where I live every time some Hispanic crosses the street in the middle of the road wearing dark clothes at night and gets killed by a car(and it happens a lot because they are stupid and refuse to learn) they put up these shrines blocking the sidewalk and cry crocodile tears when the city removes them. I'm tired of it, the person died and was buried, they're memorial is in the cemetery not on public property.
“It’s a Mexican thing.”
Not that I’ve noticed-nobody I know has anything like that out here-I’ve only seen those dead relative or pet stickers on vehicles driven by tourists with out-of-state license plates-mostly from points north or East...
If it’s in the state’s right of way then it is an encroachment. And quite probably a hazard.
I see these crosses in way too many spots and its incredibly sad because they are usually the death of kids or young adults. Tragically,our town has its four corners of its border with a cross at the edge of the intersections. Anyway, these a-holes who want to protest crosses need to just FOAD.
We know a farmer not far from here. One night, a kid had too much to drink and flipped his car onto the farmer’s property. The family put up a memorial cross - and two lawn chairs and a little table and lots of fake flowers. They never asked the farmer if they could.
All that summer, people were walking into his hay field and hanging out on the chairs and leaving bottles and food wrappers behind. When he mowed his hay, people would shout at him “Have some respect!”
He didn’t do anything. After it got cold, people stopped coming and the memorial got more and more wind-damaged and tattered. After a few months, he took it down and never saw anything there again.
Granted, that was on private property so he probably had a good case to have it removed, but he was worried about vandalism of his farm if he did. He just let a little time take care of it.
I understand and sympathize with the family but this is a bit much. I don’t know the process but in Virginia they normally will put up a marker in the spot for the family.
In Ferguson, the ‘Gentle Giant’s’ memorial was in the middle of the street. Cars had to drive around it and anyone who drove over it was accused of hate. I believe the city had to instal a plaque in the road to get rid of all the stuff piled up.
I have no problem with roadside crosses.......but this one is really big and the chairs look out of place,not respectful
It is an eyesore.
I understand the family is grieving, but roadside memorials don’t do anything for me.
That said, if they are only removing the crosses, I’d fight it. If they were removing the whole thing, let it go.
No kidding.
If I ever get rich enough to afford a chauffeur, he will be Jewish. Ever seen a star of David memorial along the highway? Thought so.
I agree with Mr. Messenger that this memorial should be taken down. He is certainly not denying this family’s grief and pain that there loved one was taken away from them; however, he is absolutely correct in stating that is what cemeteries are for.
It is a bit much. Not even a cemetery would allow all of that.
I’d let them leave it as long as they’d like and feel thankful that my visits with my sons aren’t at a roadside cross.
A simple cross? Sure, why not. Wreaths and flowers? Sure, if it recently happened or it’s an anniversary of the incident. But all sorts of decor, chairs...? That’s a little too much and really doesn’t need to be there...
No, in florida they’re are approved to be on the DOT row.
As a remembrance to the life lost and a reminder to drive safe.
Just like all those other neighborhood memorials when people leave flowers, stuffed animals, cards and all sorts of crap.
Who has to clean it up a month later after all the flowers are dead, the stuffed animals are water logged and the place is basically a dump.........?
Lots down here in MS too - but generally plain and less than 2’ high instead of full-blown gaudy memorials.
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