Blood Drive in Memory of Officer Greg Surles
by Malcolm Maddox
CBS 42 News
2008-07-14 20:01:12.0
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Pell City is a small close knit community of about 15,000 people. Jeremiah Gilreath works in a local print shop.
"I think it's more of a bedroom community. We have a lot of people that commute to Birmingham that live in Pell City.”
And when officer Greg Surles was injured in a crash; the town's people and businesses rallied to support him.
Waymond Adams is the Vice president of Union State Bank. He says, "The employee's of Union State Bank wanted to do something to show our appreciation and support of the police, fire department and all the public servants that work for our community.”
At the time the best ways to help officer Surles was to donate the blood that he so desperately needed. But now that he has passed that blood is being collected in his memory.
Mathew Barrett is a police officer with the City of Hoover. He says, "Whatever we can do for our brothers out there. I know all officers want to do as much as they can.
The response for this blood drive has been exceptional. At Union State Bank's Homewood location alone, the number of donors was nearly 15% higher than expected.
"I saw a brochure about the blood drive in honor of officer Surles and it's been a while since I've given blood, so I though this was a perfect opportunity to donate,” said Hoover Police Officer Lance Witschy.
Those who Greg Surles say he devoted his life helping others and it seems in death he is doing the same.
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