RAINSVILLE, Ala. — A large crowd broke into applause when a memorial honoring the memory of last April's tornado victims was unveiled Saturday.
A crowd of around 1,000 people gathered at the DeKalb County Schools Coliseum on a warm and breezy afternoon for the official dedication ceremony of the monument. The monument and serenity gardens were completed after months of planning and fundraising by the DeKalb County Memorial Committee.
"For all of us there are events that mark time," said master of ceremonies Chris Bowman moments before the memorial was unveiled. "The tornadoes of April 27, 2011, will certainly be a mark for our area. Every angle of the human condition was exposed. We are reminded that we are fragile, we can suffer great loss and we can rise to the call in the midst of utter chaos.
"We can bond as families and as communities, and we can work together to make sure some things and some special people will never be forgotten."
When the two-panel memorial was unveiled, the crowd got its first look at the completed structure. The words, "We Remember You ." are engraved across the top. The right panel depicts a forest scene with a dove flying into a ray of sunlight and a scroll with the names of the people who lost their lives on that tragic day one year ago.
The scene on the left panel depicts the tornado and destruction it caused last April along with a quote from Mother Teresa, "There is light in this world, a healing spirit, more powerful than any darkness we may encounter. It will emerge through the lives of ordinary people who hear a call and answer in extraordinary ways."
Rainsville Mayor Donnie Chandler spoke briefly and welcomed the crowd.
"A year ago, we had been warned how bad the storms coming to the state were going to be," Faulkner said. "When the first wave hit early in the morning, I don't think we realized how the day was going to end. In the wake of tragedy, somehow God often uses that for good. . If you want to honor those who passed away, be prepared for the next disaster. We do not need to add names to the memorial behind me."
"It's unreal to remember one year ago," Chandler said. "This building was a shell. Today it's fantastic. I'm glad to see each and every one of you. Maybe you can get some closure from this. The memorial will always be here for you."
Just before the unveiling, keynote speaker Art Faulkner, director of the Alabama Emergency Management Agency, took the stage. Faulkner was representing Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley who had a prior commitment. However, Bentley recently visited with the family of Bradley and Cindy White at their home near Sylvania. The White family's home was destroyed in the second wave of tornadoes last April 27. They survived the storm by taking shelter between two boulders just downhill from their home.
"A year ago, we had been warned how bad the storms coming to the state were going to be," Faulkner said. "When the first wave hit early in the morning, I don't think we realized how the day was going to end. In the wake of tragedy, somehow God often uses that for good. . If you want to honor those who passed away, be prepared for the next disaster. We do not need to add names to the memorial behind me."
After the memorial was unveiled, members of the victims' families were called to place roses on the memorial while the song "I Will Remember You" played.
The ceremony concluded with members of the Alhambra Highlanders Pipes and Drums playing "Amazing Grace" and the release of doves.
"Father we come here today with mixed feelings," said the Rev. Jeff Mann, pastor of First Baptist Church in Rainsville. "The desire is for the healing of a community . a community that has come together and shown the world what a true community is."
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Information from: Fort Payne Times-Journal, http://www.times-journal.com