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Thank You Area Volunteers


Viewed: 3748

Posted by: RStokes
Date: Sep 25 2014 9:30 AM

The recent 8-day search for the missing 1942 Piper J3C-65 WWII model plane took place over a large area in Northeast Henry County and the surrounding area. Fulltime and part-time law enforcement officers and numerous volunteers from throughout the region worked hundreds of hours and covered several hundred square-miles of land and water in an effort to locate the missing plane and its occupants.


In any kind of rescue/recovery operation, especially of this magnitude, there are those individuals who quietly lend a helping hand and expect nothing in return. One of those volunteers was Captain Lee Padgett; better known as “the Sea Tow man” for the past eight years to those around Lake Eufaula.


Captain Lee Padgett, owner of the Sea Tow franchise on Lake Eufaula, took to the water immediately after learning that the missing plane and its occupants could possibly be in the lake. He remained very active each day in the search that took place on Lake Eufaula and the surrounding shore-line. Captain Padgett and other volunteers utilized personally owned equipment and finances to conduct tedious sonar grid searches of the lake’s bottom. They literally covered every square foot of water on the southern end of Lake Eufaula during their search efforts.


Captain Padgett was accompanied many hours on the water by Lt. Troy Silva, with the Henry County Sheriff’s Office, and Alabama DNR Officer Joey Richardson; not to mention several other law enforcement officers, Sea Tow employees and numerous other volunteers.


It was from Captain Padgett’s boat that a Henry County Deputy spotted the wreckage of the downed plane in the Chattahoochee River on Wednesday and the plane and victim’s finally recovered.


This article is not intended to patronize any one individual and/or organization, but simply bring to the public’s attention and pay tribute to the many hundreds of unsung heroes who unselfishly volunteer their time, equipment and money to assist others in a time of need.


We, at Rickey Stokes News, want to thank all the fulltime and part-time law enforcement officers and numerous volunteers throughout our community who go the extra mile to aid and assist others in a crisis.


From the volunteers at the command post and food tent to all the men and women who tirelessly combed the air, land and sea; thank you for all you did and for what you do! Though you may never receive the public recognition that each of you deserve, you will never be forgotten by those you served with and the families you helped.


God Bless each of you and again, THANK YOU for helping make this world a better place.



Family First Funeral Home

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