Services are scheduled in Hopkinsville and on Fort Campbell Wednesday to commemorate the 33rd anniversary of a plane crash near Gander, Newfoundland that killed 248 soldiers and eight crew members on their way home from a peacekeeping mission in the Sinai Peninsula.
The 9:30 a.m. service on post will be the final one at Task Force 3-502nd Memorial Park at Fort Campbell.
The site, consisting of a monument and 256 Canadian Sugar Maple trees, was dedicated in 1986 as a living memorial to the victims.
A news release says that over time the memorial trees have grown too closely together, raising concerns about their long-term health.
Next year the memorial stone will be re-located near Fort Campbell’s Brig. Gen. Don F. Pratt Memorial Museum, and re-planted with new Sugar Maple trees. Several of the current trees will also be replanted at 2nd Brigade Combat Team combat memorial site.
Meanwhile, the Hopkinsville wreath-laying ceremony will be at Gander Memorial Park on Fort Campbell Boulevard at 11:30 a.m.
Parking is limited and there will be a shuttle service carrying attendees to the park from the Murray State Regional campus. There will also be a light lunch reception at the Murray State campus following the ceremony.