Veterans Service Bus Travels From Abilene To Midland To Offer Support To Victims
By: Brendaliss Gonzalez
Updated: November 16, 2012
As Midland city leaders and residents offer a simple prayer, these are just a few of the victims theyre thinking of:
Joshua Michael, Willaim Lubbers, Lawrence Boiven and Gary Stouffer.
Men who fought for our country overseas yet lost their lives right at home.
"The streets were lined with families I was there waving flags, just the incredible change of emotion is devastating," said Wes Perry, mayor of Midland.
A day later, the community continues to grieve for the victims who were riding a parade float as it was hit head on by a train.
"The immediate family members right now are just dealing with the crisis, for the most part they really don't know what they need, they're kind of allowing the community to lead them around," said Dennis Wright, a grief counselor who deals with veterans.
Midland locals are pitching in to do what they can to help.
"We try to honor these guys cause they put their life down so we can have freedom of speech in America and that's what were about," said Garland Hadley, a member of the Patriot Guards motorcycle group which offer escort services to family members to and from the hospital and other places.
Others have traveled from cities like Abilene to show their support.
A veterans bus was sent from the Key City to serve as a place for grief counselors to speak with victims family and loved ones.
"It's mainly to provide support but also let them know we are here," said Wright, a counseling director there.
As officials continue to investigate the scene, a community gathers up the pieces.
Joshua Michael, Willaim Lubbers, Lawrence Boiven and Gary Stouffer.
Men who fought for our country overseas yet lost their lives right at home.
"The streets were lined with families I was there waving flags, just the incredible change of emotion is devastating," said Wes Perry, mayor of Midland.
A day later, the community continues to grieve for the victims who were riding a parade float as it was hit head on by a train.
"The immediate family members right now are just dealing with the crisis, for the most part they really don't know what they need, they're kind of allowing the community to lead them around," said Dennis Wright, a grief counselor who deals with veterans.
Midland locals are pitching in to do what they can to help.
"We try to honor these guys cause they put their life down so we can have freedom of speech in America and that's what were about," said Garland Hadley, a member of the Patriot Guards motorcycle group which offer escort services to family members to and from the hospital and other places.
Others have traveled from cities like Abilene to show their support.
A veterans bus was sent from the Key City to serve as a place for grief counselors to speak with victims family and loved ones.
"It's mainly to provide support but also let them know we are here," said Wright, a counseling director there.
As officials continue to investigate the scene, a community gathers up the pieces.
