Local congregants gathered Sunday to grieve the 16 people killed during a catastrophic explosion at a rural Tennessee munitions plant.

The services were dedicated to the victims and families, many of whom were a part of the tight-knit community surrounding the Accurate Energetic Systems plant, a major local employer and military contractor specializing in explosives.

“There’s a somber kind of vibe right now in the community just because it’s so many lives that have been affected by it,” said Pastor Jimmy Andrews of the Maple Valley Baptist Church in Nunnelly. 3

“It’s family and friends just trying to hold each other up during this most difficult time.”

Churches across nearby towns, including one attended by Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee, held similar services and vigils on Sunday as th

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