Visibly shaken she read a statement to the crowd.
“Y’all are amazing people, and I don’t know how to thank you guys for all you have done for my family, and especially for my baby. I just want you all to know that she was amazing, and she would truthfully love every single one of you because she loves every single human that she has ever met. And every animal she has ever met.”
“I just wanted to say thank you to all the volunteers for coming out and supporting her. Even if you guys did not look for her… I know people were sharing her story all over social media.”
“I just want to keep her face and her story alive, because I want everyone to know Athena for Athena, not for what someone tried to make her out to be. Because she’s the best little girl. She really was.”
“Y’all are making me cry saying, ‘Athena Strong’. I needed to be strong for her because I figured I won’t be strong by the end of this. I hope she waits for me baby. Thank you all and please I don’t care if it is 5 years from now, 10 years from now, 20 years from now: remember Athena Strand. Thank you, guys,” Gandy said.
