Hundreds Take 'Unity Walk' Through Hardest Hit Areas Of Joplin

On Tuesday, residents gathered to mark the somber anniversary.

Tuesday, May 22nd 2012, 9:28 pm

By: News 9


One year ago, a devastating tornado moved through the southwestern Missouri town of Joplin, killing 161 people and destroying about a third of the town.

Joplin Tornado Timeline

On Tuesday, residents gathered to mark the somber anniversary.

"It's kind of important to me to get out and see just how much Joplin has come back," said Jason Smith, Joplin resident.

Jason Smith put on his walking shoes for a personal reason Tuesday. He was inside the Home Depot when an EF-5 Twister flattened it one year ago on May 22.

Each person who took part in Tuesday's Unity Walk did so with a heavy heart, but to also see how far Joplin has come.

The four-mile walk went through the town's hardest hit areas and took the same path as the tornado did.

"Coming over the hill, seeing where the high school used to stand, seeing the houses that have yet to be built the houses being built, and again just gives me goose bumps seeing the city come back," Smith said.

The walk winded past the Wal-Mart where three people were killed and 200 survived by huddling together in back rooms. The group then went to the site of the new high school for a ground breaking.

Their final stop is the Cunningham park, this park was completely destroyed by the tornado, now it's home to a new park and 161 newly planted trees. Each one planted for 161 lives lost.

At exactly 5:41 p.m. Tuesday, a moment of silence took place to mark the time the tornado ripped through the heart of Joplin last year.

"It's sad, you're going to make me cry. My church was right over there. I was at church. I lost my church, my mother in law lost her home, and then I left my home and went to work and that's what we do here," Angie Brown said.

She's referring to the giving back spirit of those here and all those who volunteered their time. About 130,000 volunteers came here. There's even a spot here at the park paying tribute to the volunteers.

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