Fifty years ago, May 27, 1973, changed the lives of many and the future of a small town.
On a sultry Sunday afternoon few people were aware of an impending storm that would go undetected until it struck.
Once the rain stopped, the winds died down and people began to venture outside, the severity of the moment became apparent. To use disaster to describe what a matter of minutes caused would be an understatement. What happened afterwards is nothing short of miraculous.
Those who could help did. Those who needed help received just that and so much more. The heroic efforts did not go unnoticed or unappreciated.
The metal of a man is said to be shown in times of crisis. Suffice it to say several young men stepped up that day and saved lives while altering their own forever.
Many changes have taken place in the town of Brent, AL over the last fifty years but one thing has remained constant: neighborliness. That may not be a modern descriptive word, however for the families living through the storm, it’s a very apt description of what happened that day and for years to follow. People were more sensitive toward others, concern was more readily expressed, and helpfulness was abundant.
Today, Brent physically looks nothing like it once did, but the genuineness of its citizens and overall love for each other continues. This expression of love for the town and townspeople will once again be evident on Saturday, May 27, 2023, when we come together to lovingly remember the five lives lost and their families. Following a remembrance at City Hall at 10:00 o’clock, a celebration of survival will be held at Heritage Park from 11:00-5:00pm complete with gospel singing, speakers, food trucks, games for the children and vendors. If you have photos or other memorabilia, please bring a table to display and share.
Much like the legendary phoenix bird that arose from the ashes, Brent did just that from the rubble of the tornado.