>> Anyone who’s ever heard remembers this song free bird this weekend a
concert staple for
Jacksonville’s own Leonard
Skynyrd then at the height of
their fame. The band’s plane.
>> Crashed in Mississippi’s.
6 people died. 20 were injured.
>> Tom was the only local reporter who went to the scene of the crash. The day
after it happened recently for
the first time since the
tragedy. Tom returned to
galesburg.
>> Very hard to believe that
happened 42 years ago this
month. It it almost seems like
it happened yesterday.
The occasion for my trip was
the unveiling of an
extraordinary memorial to those
who died in the crash. And to
those who lived through it and
also to those who rescued the
survivors that night. More than
4 decades ago.
>> Judy Van Zandt widow crash victim and Leonard Skynyrd lead singer Ronnie Van Zant
raising the curtain on a black
granite roadside monument about
400 yards from the crash site
which is still in a dense
wooded area and she was soon
surrounded by Skynyrd fans
wanting a picture with her
after the ceremony, Judy told
me she was determined to
accommodate them all.
>> And then I knew that the
fans are just itching to get
up. There’s was like I still
haven’t read you know the
writing on on the front I went
around and looked at the the
stuff on the back.
But I just felt like a fancy to
give up their end.
I want to sit down and read it
in and take
my time selfie with the band’s
fans come up, you know, but you
know it’s it’s an emotional
thing it really is going to
come back here.
>> This is just part of what is
now etched in stone one panel
describes the history of the
crash. The flight was doomed
but that autumn day have
otherwise been beautiful.
Another panel tells the history
of the band rise of the
simple man. The 3rd panel tells
the story of the rescue.
Many of the first responders
did not recognize the victims.
One of them recalls wondering,
what’s a bunch of hippies doing
on an airplane. They don’t look
like they can afford a ticket.
Now more than 4 decades later
local people here have a
connection to Leonard Skynyrd
that they did not ask for
but embrace with open arms a
lot of more so abide.
>> What happened in their
backyard. You know, I mean I
can imagine you know whether
you’re a fan of Lynyrd Skynyrd
or not you know the
famous band
crashed in your backyard and
people died and people were
seriously injured and.
But the people are wonderful.
>> Joining Judy at the ceremony was her daughter melody and melodies
2 children and kareena games
daughter of Steve games and
niece of Cassie Gaines and
kareen is 2 children
corrina the only child of Steve
and Teresa gains was just a
toddler when her dad, a
guitarist and singer
and her aunt Cassie also a
singer were killed. He was 28.
She was 29.
As we sat together by a lake
not far from where the plane
went down corrina told me she
did not think she would ever
come to this place why did you
decide to come here.
>> This unveiling.
>> I was apprehensive at first
time. And I don’t really.
Saying anything about the
crash or I mean.
♪
That everybody told me I was very you now. They went on for them, it was respectful
everything the body
♪
was nice.
To be kind of talked me into it
so I thought I should down.
And it’s just kind of a sad
thing now and I’m. Not really.
♪
♪
♪ ♪ Like anything to celebrate.
>> Curry to turn 3 just a few
weeks after her dad’s death.
She has no memory of him what
did your mom tell you about
your dad, Rome.
>> That I was all she had left me now she never really got over it was
always kind
kind of get about noon every year this time of year. You know they were high school
sweethearts they. The retailers
and care really on.
I was hard you now.
We all just kind of stuck together and.
>> As of
>> As of are down. >> Following the ceremony
corrina and her son and
daughter stood together and
took in this special moment
that also meant so much to
fans.
>> That your reaction to that
and they are to the monument
which effect beautiful that
overwhelming, I mean it’s very
touching something that.
Then long time whether it’s
I I don’t think it could have
been done anything better than
♪
It’s amazing you think a lot of Skinner fans will take the opportunity to come in see this
I think so I think there’s
already been a lot that come by
with out of there.
>> This I think is
♪
>> just going.
>> The idea for some kind of roadside marker was actually prompted by the continuing
pilgrimage of Leonard Skynyrd
fans year after year to the
crash site ignoring no
trespassing signs posted by the
landowner. Mary the
local people, many of
them rescuers. Did all of this
in just a year.
These people who had a hand in
saving lives that night.
More than 4 decades later had a
hand in directing that
remarkable monument they raise
money from fans
and they got a contribution
from the band is beautiful, no
doubt fans are going to make
their way there but.
>> Tom for those who maybe
don’t remember or didn’t know
the plane crash because it ran
out of fuel.
>> The National Transportation
Safety Board did an exhaustive
investigation and they blame
the pilot and the copilot for
but they described in those
words in attention to the fuel