Fair memorial ceremony unsatisfying for victim's family

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - Angry and upset. That's the reaction of a Fort Wayne mom after the unveiling of a memorial plaque honoring her daughter and the other six victims in last August's State Fair stage rigging collapse.

"I will daily pay my respects to the people who have been affected," said Steve Simmerman, president of the State Fair Board of Directors.

One of the names on the Memorial is Alina BigJohny. Her mom, Polly, came to the fairgrounds Thursday, hoping to find some comfort. She walked away feeling like the Fair Commission remembered the victims, but forgot, even ignored the families.

"It took something very dear from us," she said of the stage rigging collapse last August. "It doesn't get better. It gets worse."

And that feeling didn't change Thursday during the unveiling of the memorial plaque. The family felt ignored.

"It was almost like a smack in the face," said Christy Collins, Alina's sister.

They were hurt that no one from the Fair Commission offered personal condolences.

"I didn't see any emotions on their face. So it was very hurtful," Polly BigJohny said.