Union County Remembers Youngest Victim Of Crash
POSTED: Thursday, February 2, 2006
LAKE BUTLER, Fla. -- A family that has already buried six children this week remembered the seventh and youngest victim of last week's fatal chain reaction crash near Lake Butler.
A memorial service was held for 21-month-old Anthony Lamb on Thursday. He and six other children were killed instantly when the car they were in was rear-ended by a semi, burst into flames, and then hit a school bus.
Dozens of people filed into Archer Funeral Home in Lake Butler to pay their last respects.
"It's just been a really trying time. I've been here a long time and I've never seen so many people stressed out, from little children to elderly adults," said Sheriff Jerry Whitehead.
21-month-old Lamb was scheduled to be adopted into the Mann family the day after he was killed in the accident. His funeral was the fourth this week for all the children and their grandfather.
"Normally when you have a death, you have a funeral and you have closure. This family has just been through it all week and finally, here on Thursday with the last funeral, I think, we can get some closure," Whitehead said.
Those who were at Lamb's funeral said closure could come from simple gestures from those who care.
"These kind of services, I know. I went through a tragedy long ago with my family and people was there and I couldn't tell you who was there, but I remember that pat on the back and I remember that hug and these people are the same way," said Union County Commissioner Ricky Jenkins.
Union County residents told Channel 4 that Lamb's memory and the memory of the other children will never be forgotten.
"We'll never forget these people. We don't want to ever forget them, but we will be there for them now and 20 years from now we'll talk about this and we'll pray with these people," Jenkins said.
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