Imperial Sugar Explosion Anniversary Sunday: Reflections

This Sunday marks 2 years since the tragic night of the explosion at Imperial Sugar in Port Wentworth.

It's a time now for the Imperial family to reflect and remember those who were lost or injured on February 7th 2008.

This morning, folks gathered for a private breakfast and memorial ceremony at Imperial. There will be several other private services for the sugar plant employees and their families throughout the weekend.

Today, News 3's Randi Hempel sat down with company officials to talk about how the Imperial doing two years later.

George Muller, the vice president of administration, has been with the company for about 13 years. He lives in Sugarland and remembers getting the call that fateful night; hoping and praying everyone was okay.

He comes to the plant here often, 3-4 trips since the New Year. Through the years, Muller's gotten to know the Imperial family here. He says he truly admires the resilience, passion and amazing character of the more than 350 employees here. Muller says he noticed the uptick in moral when they started manufacturing sugar here again.

This weekend, he says, is a time to pause and reflect on the past two years.

Thomas Rathke is the current plant manager at Imperial Sugar's Port Wentworth location. While he's only been with the company since November of 2008, he too, can see how the employees and their families have come together in the healing process. He says they're like a family and they've all helped each other grow in the past two years. He says it's great to see long time company employees going back to school to learn new skills.

Rathke also wants to express his gratitude to the community for coming together to support those who lost their loved ones or were injured in the explosion two years ago.

Both men say this weekend is a time to remember the fourteen co-workers and family members lost as well as the dozens of others who were hurt in the explosion.

Several private services are planned throughout the weekend for employees.

Tune in to News 3 at 6 for more of Randi's interview with Rathke and Muller.