GREAT WHITE: Families Of Victims Mark Nightclub Fire Anniversary
February 20, 2006TheBostonChannel.com is reporting that family and friends are remembering 100 people who died at a GREAT WHITE concert at a Rhode Island nightclub fire three years ago.
NewsCenter 5's Shiba Russell reported that a memorial service was held Sunday (Feb. 19) on the site of the Station nightclub fire in West Warwick, R.I.
During Sunday's service, the names of the 100 victims were read aloud, followed by 100 seconds of silence.
"We don't call it an anniversary. We call it a memorial because anniversary is kind of happy," said Regina Sanetti, who lost a niece in the fire.
On Feb. 20, 2003, 100 people died after pyrotechnics for the hard rock band GREAT WHITE ignited packing foam on the club's walls.
"It is just a tragedy of all these souls. These young people are all gone — all these families and sorrow," Sanetti said.
Three years later, it is no easier living with the grief, families say. About 300 family and friends attended Sunday's service.
"It is as acute today as the day it happened. That never diminishes," said Chris Fontaine, who lost a son in the fire.
Only the former tour manager for the rock group GREAT WHITE admitted fault. Dan Biechele set off the pyrotechnics. Prosecutors said he's agreed to testify against the club's owners during the criminal trial.
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