|
|
Memorial service for unidentified ValuJet crash victims
July 31, 1996
Web posted at: 3:00 p.m. EDT
MIAMI (CNN) -- More than two months after ValuJet Flight 592 nose-dived into the Florida Everglades, a mass funeral service was held in Miami Wednesday for 49 of the victims whose remains have not been identified.
The service at Woodlawn Park Cemetery took place under a large tent where hundreds of families members sat near five rows of black caskets, each coffin topped with a single rose.
Montage of funeral images (1.2M QuickTime movie)
The caskets were to be buried side-by-side in a single grave in a cemetery 22 miles south of the crash site. ValuJet is paying the cost.
'Why, Lord, why?'
Before the service began, some family members walked along the rows of coffins, not knowing which of the caskets might contain the remains of their loved ones. Others visited a granite marker which will contain the names of all 110 victims. A flag draped on one of the caskets represented 11 veterans among the victims.
As the names of everyone aboard the plane were read aloud during the service, 110 roses were individually placed in a large vase. During the ritual, a woman shrieked in grief, "Why, Lord, why?"
ValuJet President Lewis Jordan and other airline executives attended the service, but did not speak.
Clinton sends sympathy note
"I'm certain your loved ones would want to be remembered as they lived, and not as they passed away," said Rabbi Warren Kasztl, one of several clergymen who spoke at the service.
"The explosion and crash of ValuJet (Flight) 592 did not and could not separate its victims from the unconditional and eternal love and presence of the all compassionate God of heaven and Earth. They now reside where He resides," said Rev. Ralph Ross.
Jim Hall, chairman of the National Transportation Safety
Board, which continues to investigate the May 11 crash, read
an open letter of sympathy from President and Mrs. Clinton.
(383K AIFF or WAV sound)
Private service at crash site
The Dade County Medical Examiner Department has identified 61 of the victims and said it will continue trying to identify the unidentified remains. Because those remains are being buried, future efforts will use photographs and notes.
On Tuesday, a private memorial prayer service for all victims' families was held about 500 feet west of the crash site. It was the first time many of them had been there.
Air boats motored to the actual site where what appeared to be wreaths of flowers and other items were dropped into the water.
Correspondent Susan Candiotti and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
Related story:
|
Tell us what you think! You said it... |
|
|
© 1996 Cable News Network, Inc.
All Rights Reserved.