Hundreds gathering for Day of Unity walk

FACES OF RECOVERY: 176,869 volunteers help put Joplin together again

They initially came in droves, pouring into Joplin by the thousands during the months following the May 2011 tornado to clear debris, clean up damaged homes and businesses and distribute donations of food, water, clothing and other necessities.

Joplin Metro

Related Photos

Former Mayor of Joplin Mike Woolston and Duquesne Mayor Denny White lead citizens from Duquesne to Joplin along 20th Street during the first leg of the Unity Walk on May 22, 2012. Globe/B.W.Shepherd
Hundreds of people walked from Duquense to Walmart along Range Line Road in the anniversary Unity Walk in Duquense on May 22, 2012. Globe/B.W.Shepherd
Ozark Center employee Lori Kay holds a plastic pinwheels for the children at the start of the Unity Walk from Duquesne to Walmart along Range Line Road on May 22, 2012. Globe/B.W.Shepherd
Crowds of people file between school buses on the way to attend the groundbreaking for the new Joplin High School as part of the Walk of Unity. Globe/Andra Stefanoni
The Optical Outlet sign memorializes the 161 victims of the May 22 tornado. Globe/Andra Stefanoni

Discussion

May 22, 2012

Hundreds gathering for Day of Unity walk

Anonymous From staff reports The Joplin Globe Tue May 22, 2012, 03:33 PM CDT

JOPLIN, Mo. — Duquesne Mayor Denny White has just finished leading a couple hundred residents and supporters on the first stretch of the Day of Unity Walk.

“It’s a happy day for us, we made it through a tough year,” White said. “It’s an uplifting experience for everyone and shows you what a little town can do if we put our minds to it.”

Gary Doolen, a 63-year-old resident of Duqusene who was severely injured in the storm, was handing out bottled water to walkers.

The group is still arriving at Wal-Mart now, and will join hundreds of other walkers at 2:30 p.m. to continue their trek through Joplin. The event will ultimately end at Cunningham Park, where the walk will be capped at 5:41 p.m. with a moment of silence to mark the one-year anniversary of Joplin’s historic storm loss.

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