SAVANNAH, Ga. --- A hard hat was hung in each of the centers of 10 wreaths of white carnations at a memorial service Saturday, one for each Imperial Sugar worker killed in the explosion at the company's nearby refinery.
More than 700 employees of the refinery in Port Wentworth, along with relatives and friends of the victims of the Feb. 7 blast, gathered at the Savannah Civic Center.
"You can ask anybody in Savannah or in the community around Port Wentworth; it definitely affects everybody," Richard Ussery, who has worked in the refinery for 17 years, said after the memorial.
For Antonio Washington, who drives a forklift in the warehouse, it was a chance to say goodbye to two friends he last saw the night of the explosion.
"I'd like to remember everybody like they were," said Mr. Washington, who couldn't bring himself to attend either man's funeral. "I think about them every day."
The memorial service came a day after the toll climbed to 10 with the death of an employee who was severely burned.
"They were men of faith, they were good sons, they were loving husbands and caring fathers," said John Sheptor, the president and CEO of Imperial Sugar. "We will miss you and we will remember you for the rest of our lives."
Thirteen victims remain in critical condition at the Joseph M. Still Burn Center at Doctors Hospital in Augusta. Two others are in serious condition there.
Comments
To anyone who works in an industrial environment, also to the supporting families. Be safe out there. Look out for one another and remember when your loved one goes to work there is a real possibility they may not come home. We work in some of the most dangerous environments everyday. God Bless those who lost their lives. God Bless their families and co-workers. Be strong and be comforted in God's love.
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