Monday was a sad day .........

Once again, the veil of mourning hangs over our community like a heavy shroud of disbelief and denial. The first words we hear our-selves say is "Oh no, not again." Eventually, the pain of reality sets in and we have to accept the fact that three members of a family, known and liked by everyone who knew them, had their lives violently and abruptly ended this past Thursday on the Bourg-Larose highway.

This time it was the Pitre family, Kermitt, Nora and their son, Audie. But, it very easily could have been your family or mine. Too many in our community have had to deal with the loss of a child, a parent or a dear friend. They were all killed by a drunk driver.

God, it hurts to lose that smile, the friendly wave, the untamed creative music�.

As emotionally drained and physically exhausted family and friends gather to alternately grieve and console, the often asked question is �. WHY. How can this happen? Who is to blame? The questions come much easier than the answers.

As a community we share the loss of a hardworking, proud, resourceful couple who were looking forward to their first grandchildren and a promising young musician whose life was full of hope and promise and opportunity. This tragic occurrence has taken away the friends we can never get to know better . . . the family whose children cannot share their victories and defeats with.

The shocking aspect of all this is that it has happened before and will happen again. The wounds of others who have had love ones killed by drunk drivers are torn open again by the news of another fatal crash. All too frequently word comes that there has been another accident involving someone we know. Most of us have been directly impacted by the death of a friend or family member at the hands of a drunk driver.

For a short time our collective consciousness is aroused. We will talk about the fact that something should be done to get drunk drivers off the road. We�ll insist this particular individual be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. We might even send in a few dollars to a group like Mothers Against Drunk Drivers (MADD). But, as tragic as this is, we are soon distracted by our work and our own problems.

If we could just capture the intensity of the moment . . . if we could harness the energies and emotions and put these feelings together . . . if we could turn our sorrows into a positive anger, we might have the formula we need to answer those unanswered questions.

A friend recently said to me we need to review the system. If there is something not working properly, let�s come at it full force and see what can be done to insure that this doesn�t happen again. Do we have to get tougher with first and second time DWI offenders? Can we stand to see some of our own friends and family members caught in the web of stricter law enforcement without wanting to step in and help them out because we know a public official who "owes us a favor"?

Where is the public outery? When will we have enough? There are few weak voices out there coming from the families of victims of drunk drivers? Can out attitude as a community change from "Let the good time roll" to one that is more responsible or do we continue to tolerate killers on our highways as we hide behind the protective wall of indifference and noninvolvement? It�s not our problem, Let�s Party!

The time has come for someone or some group to stand up and say, like the line in the movie, "I�m mad as hell and I won�t take anymore". There is a need for leadership, someone to champion this cause for us all. We need a passionate leader who can not be intimidated or compromised. One who has resources and can command respect, is unafraid and will ask the questions and seek workable solutions. Who can we look to? Public officials . . . business leaders . . . the media . . . our clergy? IS THERE ANYONE OUT THERE?

Right now, our hearts are deeply saddened for the family of all who were involved in the tragic crash that took place this past Thursday. Except for prayers and expressions of sympathy, most of us can think of little to say and we do even less. But, if we do nothing, it will happen again and this time, it might be my family . . . or yours.

Monday was a sad day for all of us. Sadder still, if we sit back and not do anything about it.
By Larry D. Weidel

Audie T. Pitre - Low End Bass

It was Audie's idea to create SHRUM. He had the idea of
two bassists and he was the one who pushed more than
anyone for SHRUM to do well. Audie's main influence�
was Geezer Butler from Black Sabbath. Audie played a�
B.C. Rich neck threw Rich Bitch he played threw�
Ampeg gear and used a Yellow DOD petal for his�
distortion. Audie has one child his name is Audie Layne�
Pitre and his mom's name is Michelle Griffin. Audie was�
tragically killed in January of 97 by a drunk Driver he was�
a HUGE part of SHRUM's sound.

�

�

��

HOME��� /��� THE BAND �� /��� MUSIC� � /��� AUDIE� � /�� AUDIE JR. �� /��� LINKS