They range in age from 61 to 92 years old. They come from all races, walks of life and educational backgrounds.

Sixty years later though, they all have one thing in common. They’re survivors of one of the worst industrial accidents ever recorded.

It was April 16, 1947 when the French cargo ship Grandcamp caught fire; its load of ammonia nitrate exploded destroying the wharf area of Texas City, nearby buildings and killed more than 600 people. Less than 20 hours later, a second ship, carrying even more ammonia nitrate, exploded causing even more damage to the industrial town.

It became known as the Texas City Disaster and to this day, the memory of the devastation is very much a part of the fabric of everyday life in Texas City.

Each year the city commemorates the disaster with a memorial service at a park dedicated to those who died – including every single member of the city’s fire department.

In recent years survivors of the disaster began gathering a few days before the anniversary to take a picture. The ‘We Remember: Texas City Disaster’ reunion photo will be taken Thursday at the city’s convention center.

As many as 300 people have attended the photo shoot in recent years. The photo will be published in the Galveston County Daily News to commemorate the anniversary.