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Monument Honors Lives Lost of April 27 Tornado Victims

276 views · Published 10 September 2012 · 1:39 · Indexed 19 October 2026

Channel: WTVC NewsChannel 9 · 2012 · News & Politics

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by Alyssa Spirato  It was a day that changed many lives forever. Multiple tornadoes tore through the Tennessee Valley over a year ago, leaving devastation in their paths. Now, a new monument sits off of Cherokee Valley Road, honoring those who lost their lives on April 27, 2011.For Bill Hullander, the monument that sits on the corner of London Lane and East Brainerd Road serves a special purpose."For the six people that I knew on here personally, and relatives that I had, it will be a time for me as I pass by or want to stop, that I can reminisce the good times and the good memories I had with them," says Hullander.April 27 was a day of many memories, and one family we spoke to say they remember it like it was yesterday.James Cummings and his family live on Cherokee Valley Road, where the tornado tore through his neighborhood."We went to the center of the room, and that's when the wall collapsed, and the house was ripped off, and then it threw us out in the yard about 100 feet," says Cummings.The tornado tore down their home, and destroyed everything they had. But there's one thing it couldn't touch or destroy, their hope."You can't look at it as something that's so terrible that you can't get back to life, but just when the weather gets bad is when we have problems," says Cummings.Cummings says he and his family had to move on, and the monument serves a daily reminder to keep going."For some who've lost family members, it's probably hard. And for some others, it brings back memories of whole community coming together. I mean, you don't see that in today's life," says Cummings.Hullander says they are planning a community dedication ceremony at the monument site. It will be held Sunday, September 23rd at 3 p.m.

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