Anniversary honors Flight 3407 victims

They're sharing their pain and remembering two difficult years in Clarence Center.

Two years ago Saturday night, Continental Connection Flight 3407 came crashing down on a house on Long Street, in Clarence Center, taking the lives of 50 people.

The house, and a neighbor's home are gone.

What's left is now considered "hallowed ground".

The Flight 3407 families and close friends packed Saint Paul Lutheran Church in Williamsville for a memorial service to pause and remember those loved one who died exactly two years ago but their memories live on.

Gale Saltzgiver said, "It's easier but, not a day goes by you don't thing about it."

Saltzgiver lost his daughter Kristin Marie Safran in the crash of Flight 3407.

"The families of 3407 have gotten pretty close over all this, so it is good to see old friends," added Saltzgiver.

It was the night of February 12th, 2009 at 10:17 that Continental Connections Flight 3407 went down in Clarence Center, killing all 49 passengers and crew on board and one person on the ground.

Those family members we talked to told us, they are finding comfort, knowing so many people still care.
Michalski said, "It's been a rough two years. We have a strong family--everyone tries to stay together and help each other out. We will get through it. It is just hard."

"The fact that you keep it alive in their memory, it really means a lot, and just the fact that we are still 3407, we are still a family. I know up there everyone is still a family, looking down on us, and that is very comforting," added Jennifer West.

Also comforting for the families, the national exposure they got from the number one college basketball team in the country.

Kevin Kuwik, an assistant coach at Ohio State lost his fiancee, Lorin Maurer in the plane crash and to honor her memory, the Buckeyes wore a 3407 patch on their jerseys, helping the families' fight to hold on to the new safety regulations they won in Washington.

Scott Maurer said, "How remarkable that Kevin, our leader, happens to be coaching at the number one ranked team in the country."

Then, a candlelight vigil on the "hallowed ground" on Long Street, where the families lit 51 candles in memory of the 50 people who perished here and an unborn child.

They lit the candles, rang the bell, and the families from all walks of life hugged each other, and went back to trying to piece their lives together.