Children’s Festival Honors Young Victim of Super Tuesday Tornado

December 22, 2008 — NOAA National Weather Service Little Rock, Ark., Meteorologist-in-Charge Renee Fair and Warning Coordination Meteorologist John Robinson recently lead a severe weather education exhibit at the "Warriors Day" children's festival in Russellville, Ark. The festival honored the memory of 10 year-old Emelaine "Emmy" Cherry, who lost her life in the Super Tuesday (Feb. 5) tornado that struck the town of Atkins, 13 miles from Russellville in central Arkansas. Emmy's parents were also killed by the tornado.

Jimmy Cherry, grandfather of the late Emmy Cherry, and Renee Fair, Meteorologist-in-Charge of the Little Rock Weather Forecast Office post in front of the NWS display at Warriors Day in Russellville, Ark. Photo credit: NOAA.

Emmy was an avid reader and a big fan of the "Warriors" series of novels for young people, written by British author Erin Hunter. The books deal with clans of wild cats trying to survive in the forest. The name "Erin Hunter" is actually the pen name of three women who write the books. One of the authors attended the festival and promised to include Emmy and her parents in a future book and to dedicate the book to Emmy.

More than 2,500 people attended and many of Emmy's relatives were on hand to greet the attendees. A number of items cherished by Emmy were on display, including her red wagon and the stool she sat on while she was reading at home.

The festival featured art and writing contests, pet shows, pony rides, and a quiz bowl, as well as severe weather safety information and animal awareness materials. Local high school drama students performed a play written especially for the event by Erin Hunter.

All money raised at the festival will benefit the Brightspirit Fund, a charity created in Emmy's honor. One project of the fund will be to build a public storm shelter for Atkins residents.