3407 vigil held in Clarence Center
Dozens of people gathered at the site of the crash to remember the victims who included an expectant mother, and another person on the ground. YNN's Ryan Whalen joins us from Clarence Center where those victims were remembered and honored Tuesday night.
To view our videos, you need to
enable JavaScript. Learn how.
install Adobe Flash 9 or above. Install now.
Then come back here and refresh the page.
CLARENCE, N.Y. — In the past, there have been hundreds of people to light a candle for those who died in the crash. But the crowd was noticeably smaller Tuesday with many of the victim's families lobbying in Washington.
Still, many local residents whose lives were turned upside down four years ago showed up to pay their respects. The mood was somber and reflective as they read the name of all 50 victims.
A moment of silence was observed at 10:17 p.m., the exact time of impact, and a trombone player from the Buffalo Philharmonic played Amazing Grace.
Although four years have passed, everyone here says they can remember exactly where they were and what they were doing that night...
"These people that lost their lives here are important to us, but our friends and our family are the most important thing that there is to us, and to support your friends and your family members – there's nothing that's more important," said Tom Thompson, organizer.
"It doesn't get that much easier. As time goes by, maybe a little bit, but there's no such thing as closure in an incident like this," said Ray Eckert, victim's brother.
For some, this was the first time they've seen the completed memorial site which was dedicated the past summer.