Fountain Ceremony commemorates twenty
six years since
Fountain Ceremony commemorates twenty
six years sinceThe chill hung in the early afternoon air as the Marshall University
community 
observed the 26th anniversary of the tragic plane crash that took the
lives of the 1970 football team, coaches, staff, community supporters, and
crew of the DC-9 jetliner.
On a Saturday evening, November 14, 1970 at approximately 7:47 P.M.,
the chartered jetliner failed to complete
its final approach at the
Tri-State Airport in Huntington, West Virginia. The plane was returning
from a football game against East Carolina in North Carolina, when the plane
fell from the sky. On board were thirty-seven members of the football team,
five coaches seven university staff members, twenty-one loyal supporters,
and five crew members.
Each year the Student Government Association organizes the symbolic commemoration
held at the Fountain on the Plaza of the Memorial Student Center.
The
University's observation 
of the event allows those touched by the tragedy
to remember and celebrate the lives of those lost on the cold November evening.
For the 1996 Memorial Service, the solemn crowd was touched by the musical selection of "Amazing Grace" performed by the Marshall Brass Ensemble directed by Baruch J. Whitehead. Cadets of the MU Military Science Department were responsible for the presentation of colors.
SGA President Nawar Shora served as the Master of Ceremonies as he provided
the audience with the history of the Memorial and extended regards to the
families and friends of the crash victims. Jamie 
Ross, SGA Vice President,
introduced the speakers.
President J. Wade Gilley praised the commemoration and its importance to the community. He provided insight into the history and proud tradition of the University's memory of the vicitms.
Coach Bobby Pruett relayed an emotion provoking recollection of the impact
of the crash on his life. As a former Marshall student-athlete, he recounted
his experiences
with several crash victims.
Reverend Jerry Losh of the Baptist Campus Ministries also offered personal memories of the crash and provided a spiritual base for remembering the lives of those dedicated to serving Marshall University.
Perhaps the most touching and thought-provoking portion of the ceremony
was the presentation of the Memorial wreaths and the silent meditation when
the fountain is turned off for the winter months.
The Ceredo Fire Department, the first on the scene in 1970, presented
a 
wreath from its members. Representatives of the Student Government Association
, Coach Pruett and members of the 1996 MU Thundering Herd Football team
also placed wreaths at the fountain.
Photo Captions (Top to bottom):
Photo 1: SGA President Nawar Shora served as the Master of Ceremonies.
Photo 2: SGA Vice President Jamie Ross introduced each speaker.
Photo 3: ROTC Color Guard 
presented
the Colors for the ceremony.
Photo 4: Dr. J. Wade Gilley, President of Marshall University, provided words of insight regarding the tradtion of the Memorial Ceremony.
Photo 5: Head Football Coach Bobby Pruett provided his personal account of the impact the crash had on his life. Photo 6: Reverend Jerry Losh provided the invocation and spirital base for the celebration of the lives of the crash vicitms.
Photo 6: Members of the Ceredo Fire Department placed a wreath at the Fountain.
Photo 7: SGA representatives Nawar Shora and Jamie Ross and Coach Pruett along with football team members Javon Darling and Buck Manning placed the second wreath at the Memorial Fountain.
Go to Listing of the Crash Victim's names
Feature Story By: Kimberly Reece