ACU Ag Department Continues Mission One Year After Tragic Bus Wreck
By: Marlisa Goldsmith
Updated: October 30, 2012
On November 4th, 2011, the Abilene Christian University Agriculture Department was headed to Medina, Texas for their annual "arms of hope trip" when the bus they were traveling in flipped over... Sending 16 passengers to area hospitals and killing one student... Anabel Reid.
A year later, the department returns to Medina Children's home.
"This year we worked it out to where all of our faculty in this department were able to go, our administrator coordinator was able to go. So it was just ma and dad and all the kids," says Emmett Miller.
Miller was on the bus last year with his wife, who was not expected to make it.
This year, she is doing much better and was able to go on the trip.
Miller continues, "This year we got to see results of brush clearing. You don't think about clearing brush, but you go back two years later and all these new buildings are there."
One of those buildings being a chapel that has a prayer room dedicated to Anabel Reid.
Miller says walking into the prayer room brought on a range of emotions.
He explains, "Real inspiring, uplifting, we laughed, we cried, we did it all."
Melinda Brown, experiences similar emotions as she decorates a bulletin board in memory of former classmate and friend.
She says, "We just wanted a board that showed Anabel's character. Being simple and humble but shows her smiling face and her fun, crazy personality."
Students and faculty may have faced a temporary road block, but they refuse to let anything hold them back permanently.
"Just like the cowboy always said, if you fall off the horse, get back on and keep going. We can't let something stop the good work we're planning on doing," says Miller.
And he knows he has all the support he needs, to climb back on that horse and fulfill his mission.
Miller says, "They're my kids. Literally, they're my family."
Lasseter Bus and Mobility, El Dorado Mobility and Thor Industries, are all listed under the suit filed by Emmett and Pat Miller, who were both on the bus.
A year later, the department returns to Medina Children's home.
"This year we worked it out to where all of our faculty in this department were able to go, our administrator coordinator was able to go. So it was just ma and dad and all the kids," says Emmett Miller.
Miller was on the bus last year with his wife, who was not expected to make it.
This year, she is doing much better and was able to go on the trip.
Miller continues, "This year we got to see results of brush clearing. You don't think about clearing brush, but you go back two years later and all these new buildings are there."
One of those buildings being a chapel that has a prayer room dedicated to Anabel Reid.
Miller says walking into the prayer room brought on a range of emotions.
He explains, "Real inspiring, uplifting, we laughed, we cried, we did it all."
Melinda Brown, experiences similar emotions as she decorates a bulletin board in memory of former classmate and friend.
She says, "We just wanted a board that showed Anabel's character. Being simple and humble but shows her smiling face and her fun, crazy personality."
Students and faculty may have faced a temporary road block, but they refuse to let anything hold them back permanently.
"Just like the cowboy always said, if you fall off the horse, get back on and keep going. We can't let something stop the good work we're planning on doing," says Miller.
And he knows he has all the support he needs, to climb back on that horse and fulfill his mission.
Miller says, "They're my kids. Literally, they're my family."
Lasseter Bus and Mobility, El Dorado Mobility and Thor Industries, are all listed under the suit filed by Emmett and Pat Miller, who were both on the bus.
