The day I lost my daughter

Janey Fair
Former vice president of MADD

My only daughter, Shannon, was born at Fort Knox, Ky., on the bitterly cold night of Jan. 31, 1974. She was a beautiful, healthy, perfect child. I was so happy I stayed awake all that night trying to take it in. Our family of four was complete. Mom, dad, son and daughter. I felt I was the most fortunate person in the world.

I always told Donald and Shannon that they must never quarrel and fight. They must be close, because as we were a military family, always leaving friends and extended family to go to a new duty station, they alone possessed all the family memories to be shared in their old age. They became extremely close and loving.

Both children excelled academically. They were in the scholastically gifted and talented classes at school. Both were gifted musicians who played alto saxophone in their school bands.

In May 1988, Shannon had a straight-A grade point average and did not have to take finals. She had just played in a concert in the all-district band and had participated in the county math bowl on local public television. Every weekend had been filled with academic pursuits. Shannon had also served as a page for our state representative in Frankfort.

Her life was a whirlwind of productive activity. She now wanted to go on a church sponsored trip to Paramount's King's Island amusement park with her friends "just for fun." She could relax. All her hard work was behind her for a while. I loved seeing her so happy.

Shannon had made her profession of faith, was baptized and joined the church on Easter Sunday in April. She said she felt very strongly that she should publicly make her commitment.

Shannon's friend, Mary Daniels, spent the night before with us. The girls stayed up late and then got up early trying on clothes, fixing their hair and putting on makeup. I can still hear their laughter.

The last time I saw Shannon was very early on the morning of May 14. She and Mary were standing in the morning sun, laughing and eager to be on their way. I will always remember the sun sparkling in Shannon's green eyes and dancing in her hair.

The young people had a wonderful time at the amusement park. Shannon settled in on the bus for the ride home. She was tired, happy and looking forward to school on Monday. About halfway home a drunk driver, a repeat offender who had spent his Saturday drinking, came around a blind curve on the wrong side of the Interstate and hit the bus carrying 67 people.

Twenty-four children and three adults were burned to death. Witnesses said that the adults died crying to God and the children died screaming for their mothers.

Many other children were severely burned; 13 more would have died if they have not been medically evacuated to a hospital and incubated before their air passages were swollen shut.

That one terrible decision to drink and drive forever changed the lives of 55 families.

The government set the cost of this crash at more than $100 million. The cost to the families that lost loved ones and to the surviving victims is incalculable. And to know that the crash was so easily preventable makes it even today, 15 years later, so unacceptable.

Shannon never accepted anything less than her best effort in everything she did. Neither should we.

May we never rest until our highways are safe for innocent children and adults to travel.

These views do not necessarily reflect those of the Daily Egyptian.

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