Victims remembered at the site of the I-40 bridge collapse

Tuesday, May 27th 2003, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

We remember the victims and survivors of the I-40 bridge collapse. It's been one year since a towboat pushed two barges ran into the bridge. It sent part of the bridge and several cars into the Arkansas River. 14-people, including a three year-old girl, died.

The bridge was rebuilt in record time to restore the major east-west Highway route across the United States. And even though the bridge is open now, many people's lives will never be the same. This Memorial Day meant taking time out to remember the victims of the bridge collapse a year ago.

Hundreds gathered on the banks of the Arkansas River for a special service in Webbers Falls. Family members placed roses at a memorial, as a reminder that life must go on no matter how hard that is to do.

Wilma Martin knows that feeling all to well. Her son and daughter in law died here last year.â€ This has been such a hard time and itâ€™s hard to say. I'll never get over it, but I know where they are. They're with the Lord and that gives me comfort."

Organizers say the I-40 bridge memorial is more than metal and stone. They say it's a promise that every person matters and that those who died won't ever be forgotten.