DALE COUNTY – OZARK: Over the last several years John Cawley of Fuqua – Bankston Funeral Home has been the host to law enforcement, fire, EMS, 911 Dispatchers and other emergency responders for 911.
It was 25 years ago today that the United States of America came under attack by 19 highjackers. An estimated 240 passengers and crew members on four commercial airlines were being used as attack weapons on America soil.
Two commercial jets struck the twin towers in New York, the Pentagon in Washington D.C., and an estimated 37 passengers and estimated 7 crew members over powered 4 highjackers and crashed a commercial jet which saved an attack on the U.S. Capital or White House.
According to information available, in 16 minutes or so after the crash into the World Trade Centers the buildings fell to the ground killing thousands of citizens, law enforcement, fire and EMS. The emergency responders ran into the danger as people ran from the building. Along with civilians, the emergency responders all lost their lives.
John Cawler, Owner/Manager of Fuqua – Bankston Funeral Home also serves as Dale County Coroner. In both jobs he works with the emergency responders. Also the late Dale County Sheriff Wally Olson was working with Fuqua – Bankston Funreal Home at the time of his death.
John Cawley, serving in both of his jobs, see’s the jobs performed daily by both paid and volunteer emergency responders. And he has great respect for them. Each year he and some other businesses sponser the event to feed the responders and say THANK YOU for placing others above self.
The event has normally been held at Fuqua – Bankston Funeral Home. This year it had to be moved to the Ozark Civic Center because it has outgrown the capacity of the funeral home.
Got to see several friends such as retired Dale County Sheriff Bryant Mixon. And one person not seen in years that I very much enjoyed seeing was Mrs. Earl Bankston. He husband, Earl, was one of the founders of Fuqua – Bankston Funeral Home and served 34 years as Dale County Coroner.
THANK YOU to all emergency responders and what you do.
