Smith Point Lifeguards

TWA Flight 800, 30 years later

On July 17, 1996, TWA Flight 800 took off from John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York on its way to Paris and Rome. Just 12 minutes after takeoff, the Boeing 747 exploded and crashed into the Atlantic Ocean near East Moriches, New York. All 230 passengers and crew members on board lost their lives… The tragedy led to important changes in aircraft design and safety rules to help prevent similar accidents in the future. (Source: wikipedia.com)

Thirty years after the tragic crash of TWA Flight 800, more than 100 family members from around the world gathered at Smith Point County Park to honor the 230 lives lost. Last night, they were joined by community members, former TWA employees, first responders, and local elected officials. As the sun set, family members read the names of every victim before walking to the shoreline. Smith Point lifeguards carried a flower wreath inscribed “Forever in Our Hearts” and, continuing a meaningful tradition, rowed it into the Atlantic Ocean and gently placed it on the water in remembrance of those who were lost.