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| Top Story | This story pubished online: Thursday, April 29, 2004 12:50 AM CDT |
Workers Memorial Day especially emotional following Formosa deaths
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But this year's observance in front of the Workers Memorial Monument on Wednesday at the Macon County Courts Facility had an immediate significance to Taylor, chairman of the Workers Memorial Committee, and his family.
On Friday, his cousin, Larry Graves, 47, was one of four workers killed in a blast at Formosa Plastics Corp. in Illiopolis.
"I have sympathy for all who get killed," Taylor said. "But this really hit home."
Family members, labor and political leaders gathered to honor fallen workers Wednesday. Many agreed the Friday deaths of Graves, Joe E. Machalek, 50, and Linda Hancock, 56, all of Decatur, and Glenn Lyman, 49, of Cornland reinforced the solemnity of the annual commemoration.
Three Decatur workers injured in the Illiopolis chemical plant blast remained hospitalized at Springfield's Memorial Medical Center on Wednesday. Randy Hancock, husband to Linda Hancock, who died Friday, and Bradford Bradshaw were in critical condition. Chris Havener was in fair condition.
State Rep. Bob Flider, D-Mount Zion, said the Illinois House of Representatives observed a moment of silence in honor of those killed and injured in the Illiopolis chemical plant explosion, as well as all fallen workers.
Those who have been killed on the job are remembered in many ways, said Mayor Paul Osborne.
"We remember them best when working conditions are improved," Osborne said. "That sacrifice has meaning to us. Even though we miss their presence, they did not die in vain. They died for you and me. They died for future generations. Their death has meaning."
Vernon Minix, president of PACE Local 6-0189, said the families of those injured or killed in the Illiopolis blast need the community's prayers.
"Our brothers and sisters who are deceased and injured, and who helped for long hours to extinguish the fire after the explosion, need to be recognized almost daily for a long while," he said.
Mike Frazier can be reached at mfrazier@;herald-review.com or 421-7985.
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