HUNTINGTON, W.Va.— It was a cold and rainy day as 75 roses were laid on the Marshall University Memorial Fountain Thursday in honor of the lives lost in the tragic plane crash 54 years ago.
The plane was carrying, the football team, coaches, fans and cheerleaders, crashed near the Tri-State Airport near Kenova, West Virginia on November 14, 1970, when they were coming home from a loss against East Carolina. Every year, the university turns off the fountain to commemorate those lost in the crash.
Marshall’s Football Coach Charles Huff says that he has help keeping the memory of the 75 alive.
“I am tasked with the challenge of continuing to make sure that the memory of the 75 stays in our locker room, even in the current landscape of college football and college athletics,” Spears said during the ceremony. “The special thing is I don’t have to do that alone, the 75 are with me.”
He pointed out that the on the current football team, 56 players are from a state that one of the 75 were from and another eight are from a different state that one of the 75 were from.
During the ceremony, family, friends, and community members can be seen gathering around the fountain.
Marshall President Brad D. Smith said that despite the tragedy Marshall faced everyone came together that day and they continue to come together to honor the 75.
“The story of Marshall University in this community is not the one of individual loss, it is one of collective strength,” Smith said. “In the wake of tragedy, we came together as one, families, friends, first responders, generations of students and athletes, all united in our grief, and all united in our resolve.”
And Marshall University’s Athletic Director Christian Spears asked everyone in the audience if they were living enough for the 75.
“So, I ask everyone today are we dreaming big enough for the 75, are we being great students, great teachers, great ambassadors, great parents, great entrepreneurs, great sons and daughters, great friends, great human beings,” Huff said. “We get to do that every day, when we do that, we truly honor and remember the 75.”
The guest speaker at the ceremony was Michael Barbera, the grandson of Margaret (Peggy) Chambers and Dr. Joseph Chambers who both lost their lives in the crash. Michael’s mom was only 14 when her parents passed away, and his aunts were cheerleaders at Marshall.
Barbera said that when his mom told stories of her parents she would always smile and through her, he was able to learn about who his grandparents were.
“My mom would light up when telling stories about her parents, they were a close-knit family,” Barbera said. “One off stories here and there about her childhood gave me a glimpse into their lives back then, family trips, fishing trips to Canada, hobbies and her parents reaction to my aunts getting into a little bit of trouble.”
Barbera studied at Marshall while also playing soccer and he inspired current Marshall University students to live the life they want to live.
“There dreams were cut short, but you there fellow students have the opportunity to live out their dreams,” Barbera said. “Always aspire to live the life you want to live and chose a path that brings you joy no matter how tough it might be. And if tragedy strikes along the path take a page from my mom and aunts and be resilient.”
He also said that no matter what has happened Marshall fans will always come out and cheer them on, including his mom who when he was done playing his soccer game, she would go and watch the football game if there was one going on.
“Huntington is growing in many different ways but despite that, I can safely say that so much of our community still schedules our social calendar around your games, plans are set in motion, group text messages are made, money is spent, babysitters are booked, coolers are filled, and food is prepped, all this to come and watch you play,” Barbera said.
And in Smith’s closing remark, he remembers what the foundation of the university is based on.
“It reminds me that I am because we are, you are because we are, we are because they are will forever be in our hearts, may god bless the 75, may god bless every one of you, and may god continue to bless Marshall University,” Smith said.