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Remembering those who died on the Deepwater Horizon
July 20 marks the three month anniversary of the explosion of the Deepwater Horizon platform in the Gulf of Mexico. In today’s instant technology age and with society’s attention span no longer than a 48 hour news cycle, the event that triggered the ongoing oil disaster seems like an eternity ago. Sadly, but perhaps inevitably, the 11 lives sacrificed in the explosion will be relegated to a footnote in the history books of offshore tragedies. For an oil rig explosion, even though it may have occurred on a vessel in 5,000 feet of water, does not convey the ironic romantic lore of the Titanic sinking, the Edmund Fitzgerald going down in a Lake Superior November gale or the Challenger exploding in space.
To society, the Deepwater Horizon victims seem as faceless and nondescript as any other industrial accident victims. Because their lives were immediately lost in the explosion, no one got to know them outside of their families, friends and co-workers. In perhaps more irony, it’s easier for people to identify with the images of pelicans frozen in oil and sea turtles being cleaned because these are ongoing stories.
We at Vujasinovic & Beckcom want to keep alive the memory of the 11 workers who lost their lives on the night of April 20, 2010 in the event that triggered the worst environmental crisis in American history. They are:
Jason Anderson of Bay City TX;, Aaron Dale Burkeen, 37, of Philadelphia, MS; Donald Clark, 49, of Newelton, LA; Steven Curtis, 39, of Georgetown, LA; Gordon Lewis Jones, 28, of Baton Rouge, LA; Roy Wyatt Kemp, 27, of Jonesville, LA; Karl KleppingerJr., 38, of Natchez, MS; Keith Blair Manuel, 56, of Eunice, LA; Dewey Revette, 48, of State Line, MS; Shane Roshto, 22, of Liberty, MS; Adam Weise, 24, of Yorktown, TX.
"I'm following the coverage, but I don't know that I like what I'm seeing,” L.D. Manuel , whose son Blair was killed in the explosion, told AOL News. “Everyone talks about the birds and the damage to the gulf and everything, but they never talk about the guys that got hurt. That really bothers me."
The Deepwater Horizon Memorial Fund has been established to assist the victims’ families. Contributions may be made here. On that site you will see a picture of each victim and he will no longer be faceless to you.
It is important to keep acknowledging them so that we can remember to pray that their lives will not have been lost in vain. If their deaths will lead to any kind of badly needed reforms in offshore safety, then their sacrifice will help to save countless other lives.
Far too often, it takes a tragedy—or many tragedies—to force reforms in worker safety in every field. Offshore, it took 1500 lives lost on the Titanic to result in lifeboat requirements.
Our maritime lawyers realize that maritime work can be dangerous when companies cut corners on safety. That's why we've dedicated our time to putting out free information for workers.
To learn more about our law firm and what we can do for you, please visit the following websites:
