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DonViejo

(60,536 posts)
Thu Apr 25, 2013, 03:45 PM Apr 2013

Memorial For Victims Of West, Texas Explosion (WATCH LIVE)

IGOR BOBIC 3:26 PM EDT, THURSDAY APRIL 25, 2013

President Barack Obama and Texas Gov. Rick Perry are among those attending a Thursday memorial service for the victims of a massive fertilizer plant explosion that occurred in West, Texas last week. Watch live below:

http://livewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/entry/memorial-for-victims-of-west-texas-explosion-watch

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redqueen

(115,096 posts)
1. The families of the volunteer firefighters have no benefits to fall back on.
Thu Apr 25, 2013, 03:49 PM
Apr 2013

One of those guys had a two year old kid.

Warpy

(110,913 posts)
2. The kid will be eligible for Social Security survivor benefits
Thu Apr 25, 2013, 03:52 PM
Apr 2013

It's not much but it's going to be the difference between poverty and decent survival.

This is another reason we need to defeat any politician who even thinks about doing anything to Social Security but raising the earnings cap on contributions.

redqueen

(115,096 posts)
3. Yeah, there's also a fund set up to raise whatever money they can.
Thu Apr 25, 2013, 04:05 PM
Apr 2013

Here's a profile of some of the victims of the blast.


WEST, TEXAS — On April 17, an explosion at a fertilizer plant in West, Texas, leveled part of the small town located some 20 miles north of Waco. Most of the victims were first responders from fire departments in West and other nearby towns that were on the scene trying to control the fire that preceded the blast.

With help from relatives, friends and obituaries of the deceased released by local funeral homes, The Associated Press compiled vignettes of some of the 14 victims who died in the blast. They were a grandmother, a town secretary, a fire truck builder, a town festival organizer, fishing enthusiasts, hunters, fathers, men preparing to become emergency medical technicians, and devoted church and local organization members.

Here are their stories:

...

http://www.newsobserver.com/2013/04/25/2848610/a-look-at-the-victims-in-the-texas.html
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