"This film is a legacy, and a tribute to you all"

I am halfway across the world from Marshall University, however the film 'We are Marshall' has just screened on one of our TV networks.

I recorded it, and have watched it twice, crying buckets both times. How amazing to have a team, a town a tragedy remembered this way.

The actors did an amazing job, and by all accounts stayed true to the story. We cannot imagine losing so many loved ones in one horrific tragedy, and our hearts go out to you all, even so many years after this tragic events occurred. This film is a legacy, and a tribute to you all.

Our thoughts are with you.

Tracey Sherwin
New Plymouth
New Zealand

"The lessons of healing through grief are vital to surviving a tragedy like this"

My dad, Brian O'Connor, died in the plane crash when I was 4.

We were in the fountain scene, along with many other family members, and were invited to the premier.

In the afternoon, before the evening gala "Green carpet" event, the movie was shown for just the family members and the '71 team. It ripped my guts out, but it was so good to remember, to know what happened, who the people were that surrounded the story that I lived.

There was a time of breathless silence when the movie ended with the fountain scene, then a standing ovation for McGee, the director.

It took me 4 years to take the shrink wrap off the DVD copy, but we watched it last Nov. 14 with my 14- and 11-year-old children. It is PG and is not overly graphic. It's emotional, but not sickening.

The lessons of healing through grief are vital to surviving a tragedy like this. Please watch it, and remember the lives of those it was created to honor.

-Ruth Ann O'Connor Lewis

"My prayers still go out"

I'm 62 and was on my way to Viet Nam, when I heard the news.

Mary Poat, the Fight Attendant, was a cousin from my Father's family in Kentucky.

Of course, this terrible tragedy, is forever etched in my heart & my prayers still go out to those who lost their lives and all their families.

-Rand Noel

"They were a great bunch of guys"

I signed a "Letter of Intent" to play football at Marshall in 1969. I chose not play for a variety of reasons, but I did spent my Freshman year at MU before transferring to a school closer to my home the next year. I do remember many great times with the other freshman recruits though. They were a great bunch of guys.


-anonymous

"Life was truly never the same"

I too remember J.D. and John (Bonnie) Stainback. We were neighbors before high school. I visited their parents after the tragic accident. Life was truly never the same for the Stainbacks after that day. My prayers go out to all who lost a love one on that day.

-Anonymous

"What a tragic story"

I saw "We are Marshall" last night on Netflix and had no idea that the plane had taken off from the town I have lived in since 1980- Kinston, North Carolina. What a tragic story and such a loss for the families of those young men. I also was Class of '73. The most touching for me was a rival team with a cross and M U on the back of the helmet -sometimes we just don't understand why....

-anonymous

"I've never been able to bring myself to watch "We Are Marshall" "

I've never been able to bring myself to watch "We Are Marshall."

From reading the online news accounts I know that the movie is either too tragic to sit through or it pales by comparison to the real life moments captured in print in The Herald-Dispatch.

-Anonymous

"I never forgot those guys"

I'm 62 years old and was graduated from Marshall in 1971.

I had 5 fraternity brothers in the crash and I remember that night there was news it wasn't the Marshall team or the Marshall team's plane was lost and turned back, but in the end they were all gone.

It was horrible to go to class and see the seats those guys sat in went unoccupied for the semester

We buried our friends and family and went on to graduate and work but I never forgot those guys.

I had to walk out of "We Are Marshall" several times. I was crying and I had an old Marshall University sweat shirt on and people began to ask me questions.

I just told them those guys were heroes, they're my heroes.

They'll forever be young and the Southern Airways Jet is getting ready to land and we'll all see other on Sunday in Huntington.

God bless you guys.

-Anonymous