A church bell at Williams Chapel at College of the Ozarks chimed 17 times for those who died last Thursday at Table Rock Lake.
More than a dozen survivors of the tragedy, along with their family and friends, filled the front pews of the church to organ music.
Although a police officer guarded their privacy, he allowed one person, Carmen Lawson, to deliver pink and red roses after the service to a family that lost nine loved ones.
“It was such a tragedy,” said Ms Lawson, 61, of Branson, who delivered the flowers.
“I feel for the family.”
Branson mayor Karen Best recalled the desperate family members who turned to City Hall for information about their loved ones.
“We started putting faces with names. Those who were once strangers to us quickly became family,” Ms Best said.
“They were a part of our community. And we did what families do. We held hands, we wept and we prayed together.”
She praised the people who tried to save others from drowning, calling them “heroes who did everything in their power to save lives”.
The service was held at the college near the site of the accident, which happened as winds approached hurricane strength.
The city and college hosted the remembrance for the victims.
“Today we are all family,” said College of the Ozarks President Jerry C. Davis.
“We are here to comfort those who have been affected by this tragedy in so many, many ways.”
Online…
… Read More
—
Click Read More to read the rest of the story from our content source/partners – Premier Christianity News.