FORDYCE, Ark. — The road to recovery is slowly but surely on its way for the community of Fordyce and the key word driving them in that direction through such a tragedy is "unity."
And it's that unity Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders recognized in her speech Sunday at the Dallas County Sheriff's Office. She visited the small town over a week after a gunman killed four people and injured many more at the Mad Butcher grocery store.
"The people of Fordyce that have come together put their arms around each other and I think that says so much about who this community really is and the way that we want it to be defined," Sanders said.
Sanders in her speech thanked the brave women and men for protecting and serving on the day of the tragic shooting at the town's only grocery store.
"Without the acts of the people that are standing here next to me, I think we would have an even worse situation on our hands," the governor said.
With this tragedy not only affecting Fordyce but other neighboring towns, Sanders was joined by other legislators and officials who expressed their gratitude for the first responders and people of Fordyce.
"All of us in south Arkansas certainly have felt this loss and appreciate, as the governor said, just the first responders, their response to stand up with line of fire and certainly we know that this is something that will take time for healing, and our prayers will continue to be with this community," said State Rep. Matthew Shepherd (R-El Dorado).
State Rep. Sonia Barker (R-Smackover) said the response by the community to the event has shown her why she's proud to be from south Arkansas. "They care about each other day in and day out."
"It's just so heartwarming to see the people that truly still care about their neighbors and care about others to help themselves," Barker said.
While in town, Gov. Sanders also visited the Dallas County Medical Center and the memorial site at the Mad Butcher grocery store.