When you think of Imperial Sugar and the tragedy at the Port Wentworth site, you really wouldn't associate fun with that. But today, a little more than two months since the explosion, the company held a picnic for employees and their families. NEWS 3'S Tristan Tully shows us how the event is helping them move forward.
Friends and family gathered at the Imperial Sugar Refinery site today, this time to kick back and enjoy some fun in the sun
John Sheptor, President and CEO of Imperial Sugar:
"Today is an opportunity to just relax, take a moment, breathe a sigh of release, be thankful and then begin to prepare for the very hard weeks ahead as we begin to clean the refinery and prepare to restart."
For the families who came out to spend time with co-workers, it was a great help to those who are still dealing with the impact of the blast, like Karen Seckinger, who's son, Paul, is still at the burn center in Augusta.
Karen Seckinger, Mother of Recovering Blast Victim:
"It's just very special to be here with all these people who have been supporting us through all this, and of course, it's hard also to be here knowing exactly what happened."
To see some of the burn victims who came out to support the refinery picnic really meant a lot to everyone.
Karen Seckinger, Mother of Recovering Blast Victim:
"Oh I'm thrilled they got to come out. I'm thrilled that they're here, I'm so glad they're here. It gives us hope too because I know where these guys were a few months ago and few weeks ago and it gives me hope."
Even Imperial Sugar President John Sheptor felt like it was a family reunion for him, "It really is uh just a touching moment for everybody and I feel it. I feel like I came home."
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