HOPKINSVILLE, KY (CHRISTIAN COUNTY NOW) – A ceremony was held on Dec. 12 at Hopkinsville’s Gander Memorial Park to solemnly honor the 40th anniversary of the plane crash that killed over 200 Fort Campbell soldiers. Community members and loved ones of those who were in the crash packed the memorial site for the annual ceremony, with city and county officials reading aloud victims names, and laying ceremonial wreaths.

“For many of us, including my own family, this day is not simply an anniversary, it’s a remembrance of the moment our lives changed forever,” said Anastasia Gallo during the ceremony, speaking about her dad, Michael Easton, who died in the crash when she was 12. Several other Gold Star Families were present for the ceremony, with many people honoring their loved ones and friends whose names are displayed at the memorial site every day.

The crash occurred on Dec. 12, 1985, where 248 soldiers and eight crew members lost their lives in the crash of Arrow Air Flight 1285 in Gander, Newfoundland, Canada. The 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) servicemembers were returning from a six-month deployment in Sinai Egypt. The event is considered one of the deadliest peacetime military air disasters in history.

“Every family gathered here carries a story like ours. Stories of their soldier or their friend who they loved, men and women who were loved and are missed no matter how much time slips by,” continued Gallo. “Today we remember not only the tragedy of the way their lives ended, but the beautiful way their lives were lived.”

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Renovations to the memorial revealed

Comprised of several acres off of 41-A and Interstate 169, the memorial park features a paved walking trail, benches, and a tall Peacekeeper monument. There are stone markers by the statue that display the names of those who died. Thousands of dollars were invested into renovations in 2025 to make the park fully accessible and to sculpt the eternal flame structure.

Dad’s House Inc. in Hopkinsville is the nonprofit behind designing the renovations in collaboration with Christian County Military Affairs and the City of Hopkinsville, led by founder Isaiah Pride. Over four dozen local businesses and organizations also offered financial support to see the project completed.

Dad’s House Inc. has the mission to provide vocational education, business development, and community support to individuals between the ages of 18-21. They are particularly focused on those who have faced adversity, supplying them the tools to reduce recidivism and excel by teaching hands on vocational skills in industries like concrete restoration and plastering. They previously held a Paint and Skate event in Hopkinsville, inviting the community to paint a mural at the skate park.

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