"The silence was overwhelming"

I was 14, To me it was the moment Huntington stood still. The silence was overwhelming. The grief devastating,The tears poured everywhere. We lost our other family.

Yeah that was Marshall, When they hit the field, It was like watching your brothers playing Football and your sisters cheering them on. 
It's not just the team, It's Huntington. WE ARE MARSHALL.! YOU are Forever Missed!

- Sonja Henie Burd 

"We still miss Uncle Kenny"

Ken Jones was my uncle. I remember my husband and I and our baby girl, Michelle, going to his studio one time on our way to West Virginia. When we got back on the road, he talked to us through the radio station. We were so sorry when the plane crash happened. We still miss Uncle Kenny.

Bev Lawrence
St. Louis, MO 

"There will always be a strong connection between Ferrum College and Marshall University"

I grew up in the small town of Boydton, Virginia. My father was one of the football coaches at the local high school (Bluestone) and coached David Griffith. I remember when they had a moment of silence at the Bluestone football game after the crash. That was my first recollection of the crash, I was 10.

My parents always spoke of what a fine person David was, and they thought so much of him.

I never knew, until I went to Ferrum College in 1978, that David too had attended Ferrum. Coach Rick Tolley was the first full time assistant football coach ever hired at Ferrum, and 7 of the players that were on Ferrum's 1968 Junior College National Championship team, transferred to Marshall.

Of the six persons buried at Springhill Cemetery in Huntington WV, three were Ferrum transfers. David Griffith, Thomas Brown, and Thomas Zborill. Marshall University, and the town of Huntington suffered unimaginable grief in the days and weeks after the crash. I am certain that the pain experienced cannot be done justice in We Are Marshall. While an epic movie, and one of my favorites, it focused most of its content on the rebirth of Marshall football. This was a smart decision by the producers of the movie as to try to duplicate what the community went through would likely have fallen short.

I just hope that people realize that a small college in Virginia, lost six former players, and a former assistant coach. There will always be a strong connection between Ferrum College and Marshall University. 

-Ferrum82

"Thanks for the movie, for without it I would not have known"

I too just watched the movie "We are Marshall" and I am truly devastated and overwhelmed to find out this was a true story. I was about 5 at the time but it is a mystery as to why I never heard of this tragedy as I am a avid football fan of old and new. I am as grief stricken as if I was right there amongst you all and my condolences go out to anyone who lost someone in this crash and especially to Ruffin, Oliver, Red, and others who lived with the guilt of not being there. Thanks for the movie, for without it I would not have known.

- Ginger, Cleveland, Ohio

"My thoughts and prayers will always be with you"

I barely remember hearing about the crash when I was in high school. Sports were not my thing. However, I watched 'We Are Marshall' last night and started reading more on the internet. I just want the families and friends to Marshall University to know that my thoughts and prayers will always be with you. God Bless you all! -BLH

"Any real fan of football cannot watch the film without crying"

The newspaper has done a tremendous public service in compiling so much history of the people and events surrounding that time. I was 23 when the tragedy happened and I recall how amazing was the rebirth of Marshall with such great teams and players dominating the nation in the 90s. Coach Lengyel will always be a hero in my eyes, as will Reggie Oliver, Nate and Red Dawson. Any real fan of football cannot watch the film without crying. Richard Kaffenberger University of Arizona, Class of 72

"My prayers go out to each and everyone of those directly involved"

We (Memphis) played y'all on the 40 anniversary and I hope this will not come across in a bad way, but we were honored.

I could never fully understand how that would feel, but when we lost our football coach and a highly regarded recruit in a plane crash on their way to do an interview if I remember correctly, that stung our community.

As fans, we adopt our football team and love them, as you guys do. Losing a few compared to losing our entire team is something that cannot be compared by the degree of hurt we each felt for the players,coaches, boosters, friends, and family of the crash that ended so many lives of your football family.

My prayers go out to each and everyone of those directly involved or indirectly.

Although it's been over 40 years, I am sure those who perished are not far from your minds. I am glad you had the courage to build it back up and am honored to have you as an opponent.

Although we are off to the big least, we will always consider ourselves blessed to have shared some time with your community and hope to continue to play. God Bless you all.

-Anonymous

"My heart goes out to all of you and your families"

To everyone that was affected by this tragic accident, my heart goes out to all of you and your families. I don't know anyone that was involved in this tragedy, but I saw the movie " We Are Marshall" and I was completly touched by this story. I am 17 years old and never before has s story touched my heart so profoundly. This was a terrible tradegy that I will never forget, and a team that everyone will always remember. WE! ARE! MARSHALL!!

"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

"Thank you for your show of respect"

On the 40th anniversary of the plane crash, I am still so sad about the loss of life that fateful day. Art Harris and his dad, Arthur Harris, Sr. were such great people and Art was a 3-sport star at Passaic High.

Thank you for your show of respect to the Marshall team so long ago.

-Ms. Cassutto(now Haden)

"Lest we ever forget, We Are Marshall"

I was at a lodge dinner with my parents in Ceredo. We kept hearing one siren after another. There were no phones in the lodge hall. Jack Hardin, from the Herald-Dispatch, was there and we all walked outside together. The sirens just kept blaring. Jack said "Oh my God! The Marshall plane is due in about now". Unfortunately, he was correct. I am not sure if Jack ever told this story over the years. Lest we ever forget, We Are Marshall.

-Sam Perkey

" I'll see you guys when the final whistle blows."

40 years seems so long ago yet it seems like yesterday too when Art Harris and I were playing football in the mud at our local park, playing baseball in high school and winning championships with our church basketball team. I fondly remember the hours of talking sports with Art's dad who was also lost in the tragedy. I remember pitching against Ted Shoebridge and learning quickly that you never get him out with the same pitch twice. Ted was a great athlete and one of the nicest guys you'd ever want to meet.

I'll see you guys when the final whistle blows.

We are All one Heart, We Are Marshall

Roy Slezak

"Forever a fan of the Thundering Herd"

Several of the children who lost family in the crash were in Knoxville, TN that weekend. The Huntington youth football program had come to Knoxville to play the Baby Falcons and they stayed in our homes. My family hosted Steve Morehouse. Every Nov 14, I think of my parents breaking the news to us after the Huntington buses pulled away.

I will never forget the polite boy who spent the weekend with us, nor the crash. The Knoxville New Sentinel has run stories about the Marshall crash and its connection to Knoxville over the years. I found it difficult to see the movie when came out, I knew it would be hard to watch but I did finally build up the courage to see it after it was released on DVD. Just like the 6 o'clock news about the war in Vietnam, the Marshall crash is a never fading memory of my childhood.

I have prayed often not only for the Morehouse family but all of Marshall, and one year on Nov 14 I hope be in Huntington for the memorial service at the fountain.

A Tennessee Vol who is also and forever a fan of the Thundering Herd

-BA Strickland Rodgers