On the anniversary of the Piatt plane crash, a local man shares his painful memories of losing family members in the tragedy.
Victor was just a kid, only 10 years old, when he heard the explosion while watching cartoons. He jumped on his bike, eager to check on his grandma, but the emergency crews wouldn’t let him through. It wasn’t until later that he realized the full extent of the disaster.
He vividly remembers the smell of burning jet fuel and the sight of flames rolling down the street. It was a chaotic scene, and the shock of losing his loved ones hit him hard. His grandmother’s house was completely destroyed, and he lost both her and his father in the crash.
Now, the site is a memorial park, with a granite monument honoring the victims. A filmmaker who worked on a documentary about the crash emphasizes the importance of remembering this tragedy. The pain and trauma from that day still linger for many who were affected.
Victor reflects on how that day changed everything for him and his friends in the neighborhood. It’s a painful memory, but sharing it helps keep their stories alive.
