101st Airborne remembers soldiers killed in 1985 Gander plane crash

On Monday morning, members of the 101st Airborne Division's 2nd Brigade combat team at Fort Campbell remembered those soldiers killed in the Gander, Newfoundland airline crash 37 years ago.

The 248 soldiers and eight crew members were returning to Fort Campbell in 1985 after a six-month deployment to the Sinai Peninsula when their DC-8 plane crashed shortly after takeoff.

A remembrance ceremony was held at the Gander Living Memorial at Fort Campbell Monday morning. Memorial services were also held Monday in Gander, New Foundland and by the U.S. Army Sinai Strike Force near the Egypt/Israel border.

The Kentucky ceremony took place before a group of 256 Canadian sugar maple trees, each one representing someone who lost their life in the Arrow Air Flight 1285 crash. The idea for the living memorial came from a 15-year-old girl living in Oregon who donated her babysitting money to help purchase trees. Hung around each tree is a black heart inscribed with the name of one of the soldiers who perished in the crash.

Usually during the annual ceremony, one soldier is posted next to each tree, but some trees were left unaccompanied this year because of 2nd Brigade's ongoing deployment in Europe.



(Photo:  U.S. Army)