Proud of my Community

[rabernet]

I'm sure many of you have heard by now of the tragedy that happened in Atlanta with the bus that fell from a bridge onto the interstate, killing six people on the bus. It was a small Mennonite college in OH that was traveling with their baseball team to FL for some games.

Knowing where this accident happened (six miles from my home), I can pretty much surmise how it ocurred, but it doesn't lessen the pain that our community is feeling for the victims' and survivors' families.

AirTran is based in Atlanta and has offered free airfare to the family members of the survivors to get to Atlanta to be with their children, and many families are opening up their homes to host the survivors and their families. The rapid and professional response of the rescuerers is awe inspiring and this tragedy will linger within this community for a long time.

The community outreach makes me proud to be an Atlantan! My thoughts and prayers are with the families and the rescuers today.

[joepythons]

I'm sure many of you have heard by now of the tragedy that happened in Atlanta with the bus that fell from a bridge onto the interstate, killing six people on the bus. It was a small Mennonite college in OH that was traveling with their baseball team to FL for some games.

Knowing where this accident happened (six miles from my home), I can pretty much surmise how it ocurred, but it doesn't lessen the pain that our community is feeling for the victims' and survivors' families.

AirTran is based in Atlanta and has offered free airfare to the family members of the survivors to get to Atlanta to be with their children, and many families are opening up their homes to host the survivors and their families. The rapid and professional response of the rescuerers is awe inspiring and this tragedy will linger within this community for a long time.

The community outreach makes me proud to be an Atlantan! My thoughts and prayers are with the families and the rescuers today.

O no thats sad .Its great that thier are still people willing to help others in a time like this .Our prayers and thoughts for those involved with this tragedy.

[frankykeno]

Robin you have every right to be proud. Atlanta has stepped up to open it's arms and hearts to the families from this small Ohio University. Bluffton is about 60 miles outside of Toledo.

I was just watching the coverage as it's been all over our local TV all morning (some of the students involved come from the 'burbs of Toledo). Air Trans is not only offering free airfare, they are actually flying a charter from Atlanta up here tonight to pick up family members. Being the height of the spring break season, seats are very scarce and this wonderful company freed up a plane just to do this. What a giving thing from a company that obviously is willing to go above and beyond.

Also there are reports of schools there volunteering to gather up personal possessions for safekeeping, other school teams offering to replace equipment for this team....basically to do whatever it takes to just help out. They just reported that the Atlanta Business Bureau is offering free hotel rooms so the families don't have to worry where to lay down their heads.

Southern hospitality as it's best during a terrible tragedy....you have every right to be very proud. My family is keeping these families and friends as well as the students and educators of Bluffton in our prayers.

[rabernet]

My mother just e-mailed me and asked if I had heard (you can't be in Atlanta and not know). This is my reply to her, with my speculation on how it happened:

Yes, you can't be in Atlanta and not know about it. I actually heard about it a few minutes after it happened as I was driving into work. It's very tragic. I can understand HOW it happened, but it doesn't lessen the tragedy. The exit for that bridge is on the left side, and they were traveling in the HOV lane.

It's dark, and the driver most likely isn't familiar with Atlanta. I'm sure he assumed he was still on the interstate, and didn't realize he was exiting (it's still painted with the HOV markings). By the time he realized it and tried to turn, while still traveling at highway speed, the bus turned and went over the bridge. That's my theory, anyway. That exit sneaks up on you when you are traveling in the HOV lane.

[Pork Chops N' Corn Bread]

That is something to be proud of, the only thing our community does is steal, kill, and build wal-marts

[frankykeno]

As well we need to send our thoughts to the families, friends students and staff of Enterprise High School in Enterprise, Alabama. They had a tornado hit and a number of students died and were injured. As a parent my heart breaks for all these families who have to face the thing every parent fears most.