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Battle Of Memorials Brewing In Leominster

LEOMINSTER (CBS) - On what has become sacred ground for two sons of Leominster, a battle of memorials is brewing, as two mothers grieve the loss of their sons. "We feel her pain," says Pauline Roberge, talking about the mother of another fallen son. After Army soldier Jonathan Roberge was killed in Iraq in 2009, a park was built in his hometown to honor him and all military heroes.

Now, seven years later, on the edge of what's known as Johnny Ro Park, family and friends of another young man find themselves paying tribute to their own loved-one. Nineteen-year-old Frankie Fortuna was killed in a hit-and-run in November, just down the street from the park. "Recently I've been hearing people want to take this down," said his friend Joe Ocasio, standing near the roadside collection of pictures and messages. "I don't want that. This place is sacred to my friend."

Johnny Ro Park
Johnny Ro Park in Leominster (WBZ-TV)

"That was the last place Frankie was," says Linda Schumacher, a family friend who says Fortuna's mother visits the spot every day. "Frankie's spirit left at that particular place."

But the president of the group that built and maintains Johnny Ro Park says it's become something else. "Basically it's turned into a party spot, and the kids were drinking and smoking marijuana leaving us their trash," says Diane Beaudoin. A petition was started to move Fortuna's memorial out. In response, another petition appeared to keep it where it is.

Leominster's roadside memorial ordinance dictates that memorials must be removed from public property after 90 days. While the town does not have immediate plans to do that, Mayor Dean Mazzarella plans to meet with both sides to come up with a compassionate compromise. Pauline Roberge says she's inclined to let it stay on one condition. "It's so important that they keep the respect," she says.

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