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Obama, Cornyn, Perry to speak at West memorial

Posted at 9:59 AM, Apr 25, 2013
and last updated 2013-04-25 11:00:22-04

WACO, Texas (AP) - The town of West, Texas, is preparing to say goodbye to 14 people who were killed when a fertilizer plant exploded and leveled part of the town.

President Barack Obama, U.S. Sen. John Cornyn and Texas Gov. Rick Perry are set to speak at Thursday's memorial at Baylor University's Ferrell Center in Waco.

Firefighters and other first responders were among those killed when a fire at the plant erupted in an explosion last week. Hundreds of people were injured.

Obama has ordered that the U.S. flag at federal buildings and military facilities in Texas be flown at half-staff Thursday in memory of the victims. He had already planned to be in the state for Thursday's dedication of former President George W. Bush's presidential library at Southern Methodist University.

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