A Request I'm Struggling to Fulfill....

I've received a request to remove this monument from a local roadway...but what will the victim's family think if this is done?

I don't know the full story--but obviously it was a tragic outcome that led to the creation of the roadside monument pictured above.  I've seen these on highways and roadways across the country--typically marking the spot where somebody's loved one has perished.

I received the following request:

"Attached is the picture of the memorial that is in the XXXXXXXXXXX median.
While I am sympathetic for the family and their loss, I don’t think this memorial needs to remain in the median any longer.
The display has been up for longer than a year. It is not logical to think that we can
have memorials all along the roadside at every point of human life lost. I have talked with several other residents, and we all agree that we would like to have the memorial removed.
Thanks for your attention to this matter."

My Response:

"Thanks for the picture.  I am struggling a bit with this one simply due to the fact that obviously someone’s loved one was killed here and I want to be respectful of that side of this equation as well (e.g. what will the relatives think if suddenly this is removed?)  I am having staff research what our typical response is to removal requests for such memorials, and I will be back in touch once I learn how these are typically handled.

I hope you recognize the delicate balancing act at play here."