The Weld County commissioners on Wednesday proclaimed a day of remembrance for the 44 victims of the country’s first instance of airplane sabotage, which occurred over Weld County nearly 70 years ago.
The commissioners declared a day of remembrance Saturday for the passengers and crew who perished on Flight 629 on Nov. 1, 1955.
John “Jack” Graham hid 25 sticks of dynamite in his mother’s luggage as revenge for his childhood and to get a large insurance payout. After the explosion, the plane crashed in the beet fields and surrounding communities in the area of what is now the town of Firestone.
“A lot of firsts, a lot of sad tragedies in people’s lives,” Commissioner Chair Perry Buck said. “I’m a third-generation Weld County kid, and it’s amazing how some of those names I just read bring back families that I’ve grown up with.”
Citizen first responder for the United Airlines Flight 629 Crash, Phillip Bearly, speaks to county commissioners about his experience and the efforts of his father, Clayton Bearly, on the day of the tragedy. (Tyler Duncan/Staff Reporter)Conrad Hopp, one of the original resident first responders, was present at the proclamation to express his gratitude to the county for recognizing the victims and responders, a recognition he felt was long overdue. Philip Bearly, whose father was also one of the county residents who were first at the scene of the crash, was also present and recounted how much of a community effort it was that day.
“My dad said, ‘A disaster has happened, and they’re gonna need help,’ ” Bearly said. “We were within 10 minutes on the site, and my dad helped keep traffic and the looters away from the site until enough law enforcement people could get called out. We stayed there on-site until enough law enforcement and rescuers arrived.”
As responders recovered the bodies, they were taken to a temporary morgue set up in the National Guard Armory in downtown Greeley. The victims’ ages ranged from 13 months old to 81 years old.
This tragedy was the first case of a plane bombing in the U.S. and prompted new regulations for air travel, such as having luggage X-rayed. It also changed how the FBI investigates plane crashes.
Before the bombing, there was no law against sabotaging airplanes, so Graham was charged with only one count of murder. He was convicted and executed in a gas chamber.
On Saturday, the Denver Police Museum will host a ceremony to remember the victims of Flight 629. At a private event with families of the victims and first responders on Sunday morning, the Flight 629 Memorial Board will unveil the location of a memorial to be constructed in Weld County.
“So many times it takes community-organized folks to keep those memories alive,” Commissioner Kevin Ross said. “We have amazing people here in Weld County that step up in times of tragedy, and it just really is a long legacy here in Weld County of individuals helping out others in the community.”
Becky Tesone, vice president of the memorial board, said it will cost $850,000 to construct the memorial. Tesone issued an open request to the county and the public for donations to help fund the construction. To donate, go to www.flight629memorial.org.
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