HUNTINGTON, W.Va. –– An event this weekend is aimed at raising money to continue the legacy of those who died in the 1975 Marshall team plane crash. For a second year the Fire and Iron Station 29 of the Ceredo and Kenova fire departments will sponsor the fundraising ride to benefit the 75 Legacy Scholarship Fund.
“This is the second year that we’ve done it and this year we’ve moved it to the Memorial Fountain,” said Leslie Deese Garvis, President of the Marshall 75 Alumni Chapter.
Garvis lost her dad, Danny Deese in the crash in 1970 when she was six-months old. She’s spent her life getting to know her dad, who was employed by Southern Airways, through his friends and through friendships forged out of the tragedy. She said these kinds of events help bind all of the descendants together forever.
“Ceredo and Kenova were the two main fire stations that responded that night. It’s just as special to them as it is to us,” she said.
The event will start at 1:00 p.m. Saturday. It’s not only a ride for motorcycles, but for anyone in cars or any vehicle. It’s $20 per vehicle to register. Deese-Garvis explained on MetroNews Midday it will include a scavenger hunt in which people will have to find a variety of items.
“It’s going to include some really cool things like, a place from the We Are Marshall Movie. So people will take pictures and then end up by 5:00 p.m. at the Fire and Iron Station clubhouse to submit their entries,” she explained.
Proceeds from the event will go into the scholarship fund which is aimed at fulfilling the promise that any direct descendants of those who died in the crash can attend Marshall for free. She said originally that was to be the plan, but the funding for the idea never materialized. Marshall President Brad Smith has come through and agreed to honor the original commitment. Deese-Garvis is one of those who is benefitting and will graduate from Marshall next year.
She said these kinds of activities, as well as the annual Fountain ceremony, are extremely important to keep alive the memory of those killed in the 1970’s disaster.
“I know people have said so many years have gone by, should we still do this? But you know what, I’ll never get over not having my dad in my life. Other people never get over not having their family. It doesn’t matter how many years have gone by, it’s still there,” she said.