Over 500 pay their respects to slain school bus driver.
Monday, February 4, 2013
MIDLAND CITY, Ala. (AP) — This town of 2,400 nestled amid peanut farms and cotton fields has long relied on a strong Christian faith, a policy of "love thy neighbor," and the power of group prayer.
Those beliefs have been strongly in evidence in the six days since a gunman killed a school bus driver, snatched a 5-year-old boy off a bus full of youngsters and fled with his hostage to an underground bunker.
Police say 65-year-old Jim Dykes killed 66-year-old Charles Albert Poland J. before escaping with the kindergartener, who has Asperger's syndrome and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, according to a state lawmaker who has spent time with his mother.
On Sunday, more than 500 people filed into the Civic Center in the nearby town of Ozark to pay their final tribute to Poland, whom they hailed as a hero for protecting the other children on the bus before he was gunned down and the little boy grabbed.
Family members embrace during the funeral service of Charles “Chuck” Poland in Ozark, Ala., Sunday, Feb. 3, 2013. Authorities say Jim Lee Dykes, 65 — a decorated veteran of the Vietnam War known as Jimmy to neighbors — gunned down Poland, a school bus driver, and then abducted a 5-year-old boy from the bus, taking him to an underground bunker on his rural property. (AP Photo/Dothan Eagle, Danny Tindell)
A sign encouraging prayer for a 5-year-old boy being held hostage, hangs on a fence surrounding Midland City Elementary school Wednesday, Feb. 3, 2013, in Midland City, Ala. Authorities say Jim Lee Dykes, 65 — a decorated Vietnam-era veteran known as Jimmy to neighbors — gunned down a school bus driver and then abducted a 5-year-old boy from the bus, taking him to an underground bunker on his rural property. The driver, 66-year-old Charles Albert Poland Jr., who was shot trying to protect children on his bus, was buried Sunday. (AP Photo/AL.com, Joe Songer)
Members of the community gather to pray for a 5-year-old taken hostage, in Midland City, Ala., Sunday, Feb. 3, 2013. Authorities say Jim Lee Dykes, 65 — a decorated Vietnam-era veteran known as Jimmy to neighbors — gunned down a school bus driver and then abducted a 5-year-old boy from the bus, taking him to an underground bunker on his rural property. The driver, 66-year-old Charles Albert Poland Jr., who was shot trying to protect children on his bus, was buried Sunday. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
The funeral procession of slain bus driver Charles "Chuck" Poland makes its way down Highway 231 in Ozark, Ala., Sunday Over 60 motorcycles and dozens of school buses join the funeral procession. The Ozark Civic Center was packed with mourners for the funeral. Burial for Poland is in Newton, Ala. (AP Photo/AL.com, Joe Songer)
The funeral procession of slain bus driver Charles "Chuck" Poland makes its way down Highway 231 in Ozark, Ala., Sunday Over 60 motorcycles and dozens of school buses join the funeral procession. The Ozark Civic Center was packed with mourners for the funeral. Burial for Poland is in Newton Alabama. (AP Photo/AL.com, Joe Songer)
The funeral procession of slain bus driver Charles "Chuck" Poland makes its way down Highway 231 in Ozark, Ala., Sunday Over 60 motorcycles and dozens of school buses join the funeral procession. The Ozark Civic Center was packed with mourners for the funeral. Burial for Poland is in Newton, Ala. (AP Photo/AL.com, Joe Songer)
