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Escambia Bus Drivers Attend Funeral Of Slain Alabama Driver
February 4, 2013
About two dozen Escambia County School District bus drivers attended the funeral Sunday of a bus driver shot and killed near Midland City, Ala.
When an armed gunman boarded his bus Tuesday and demanded to take all of the students, driver Charles Albert Poland, 66, refused. He was shot four times and died protecting all of the students, except one, was safely escaped bus 04-2.
A 5-year old kindergartener was kidnapped by Jimmy Lee Dykes and held in an underground bunker.
Poland had driven for the Dale County Board of Eduction for three years. After his route, he and his wife Jan would share a cup of coffee and watch the sunset, or listen to the Alabama ran, she told the Dothan Eagle.
They would sometimes recite their favorite Bible verse:
For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day. – 2 Timothy 1:12
Poland, by all accounts, love his simple life, and loved the children on his bus.
He loved them. He loved everybody and he was loved,” Jan Poland told the Dothan Eagle.
Pictured top: About two dozen Escambia County bus drivers attended a funeral Sunday in Midland City, Ala., for a school bus driver that was shot and killed. Pictured below (courtesy Dothan Eagle): Bus driver Charles Albert Poland. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Comments
3 Responses to “Escambia Bus Drivers Attend Funeral Of Slain Alabama Driver”
Glad to hear the child is safe and Dykes is dead. So sad about Mr. Poland. My condolences to his family. He gave his life protecting the children. Yes, he is a true hero.
My prayers are with his family. I am also praying for GOD to return that sweet baby to his family SAFE and sound. GOD knew when he created him that he would give his life to save someone. Greater Love hath no man, that he would give his life. We need as a nation to OPEN our eyes. One adult on a bus is not a good idea. If the government and school districts won’t pay for additional help then parents of childrenwho attend school will have to be screened, background checked, and volunteer to be bus assistants, if we truly care and want to help keep our children safe. These things don’t just happen to THE OTHER PERSON’S CHILD, IT COULD VERY WELL HAVE BEEN OURS. We need to be the necessary part of the solution. We have an obligation!!!! Flood our state reps office with letters and calls. We MUST ALL HELP.
Charles Poland, a hero, a saint, actually. What are we going to do about the little boy in the bunker? he is going to be an emotionally mess for ever after, if he makes it out.
And the perpertrator, what of him?