We've Got The County Covered
We've Got The County Covered
This past Wednesday, November 30 nearly 80 people braved the elements to attend the 30th Anniversary Commemoration of the C-141 Collision Crash that claimed the lives of 13 United States Airmen north of Harlem. Immediately following the devastating crash, a group of local individuals formed an Airmen Memorial Committee and quickly erected a Memorial in their Honor. The past 30 years the Committee has maintained a memorial in Harlem as well as a site marking the spot of the crash North of Harlem. Wednesday's commemoration was a culmination of months of hard work by the committee to ensure these 13 Airmen were properly remembered.
"It was colder than a 'you know what'," stated Co-Chairman Darwin Zellmer. "I took Frank L Maguire, brother of Kevin Maguire one of the Airmen killed, up to the actual crash site north of Harlem. He was kind of somber and surveyed the total area and was somewhat in awe. Frank was relaxed by seeing a heard of antelope run across the land and he thought it was pretty cool." Maguire flew in from Ohio to attend the event.
At 3:30 pm the Committee met at the Harlem Memorial sight to commemorate the 13 Airmen who lost their lives and to dedicate the addition of the new bridge, "The Bridge is truly a wonderful piece of art," stated Zellmer. "The weather was frigid; our hearts were warm and full of respect and appreciation for these thirteen boys." Zellmer then welcomed guests to the dedication and Harlem City Councilmen Chris Green welcomed everyone in attendance to the city of Harlem. Zellmer then called upon Pastor Will Rima of the American Lutheran Church to read the Invocation. Rima, a Veteran himself was honored to serve in that roll.
The names of the 13 Airmen names were read by Chinook Fire Chief Kraig Hansen. At the time of the crash in 1992 Hansen was the Harlem Fire Chief and was on scene the night of the crash, securing the sight and overseeing his Fireman. Dan Spencer from Fort Belknap BIA Security soon released the Harlem Fire Department and sent them on their way. Spencer was working for Fort Belknap Security at that time and since the crash was a Federal Situation involving the FAA, and Malmstrom Air Force Base was more than three hours away, it was decided that the next senior person, Spencer, was the closest senior Federal Official to the crash site and thus was given Command.
Air Force Reserve Officer, and Blaine County Sheriff Deputy, Kevin Spudic, read the High Flight poem, which is standard operating procedure at Military Memorial Dedications. Zellmer also talked about the building of the Memorial and all of the people that came together to get the job completed. Zellmer then highlighted the generosity of these businesses and individuals alike to come up with the supplies, provide the labor, and do the work necessary. "All work and supplies were completed without any Federal Assistance to complete the task."
Zellmer stated, "Black Hoop Enterprise was a great help in working with the Memorial Committee to get the new bridge designed and completed. Dalvon Newbill, an employee of the company, was primarily responsible for doing the bulk of the design work and plasma cutting of the Memorial Placards that line the one side of the bridge. Each of the placards honored one of the 13 Airmen killed. The Harlem Civic Group also offered financial assistance, if necessary, with the building and installation of the bridge and Loise Nissen led the singing of God Bless America during the ceremony."
The cold was definitely an issue and the committee wanted to do what they could to keep people as comfortable as possible. Zellmer stated, "We cut the ceremony down a bit do to the cold and wind, but I kept thinking about what them boys went through and felt we need to conduct the ceremony as best we could. We did this for those 13 boys and their families, in addition to the fireman, first responders, sheriff's deputies and all who were on site to recover their bodies and return them to their loved ones with all the dignity respect and honor they deserved."
Frank L. Maguire is a Retired Airmen and currently employed by the Air Force in Ohio as a civilian and was the only family member in attendance. Zellmer estimated the crowd to be approximately 75-80 people and said that roughly forty attended the reception at the American Lutheran Church that followed. Frank stayed with Darwin and his wife Wednesday night and while their Jim and Louise Nissen stopped by and they presented Frank with a special lap top quilt that displayed the Air Force flag in the center. Darwin and Betty also presented Frank with some Harlem Montana mementos. Zellmer added that Marsha Mohar baked a cake for the reception that included the 13 names of the Airmen.
How did the committee feel things went? "I could see that this provided a lot of closure to Frank L. Maguire as well as the Fireman and First Responders in attendance that had carried this heavy burden with them for the past 30 years. It really seemed to have lifted a weight off their shoulders. All I can say is God Bless the people of the United States of America, especially those from Montana for helping pull this off so perfectly. The Airmen Memorial Committee is extremely appreciative to all those who braved the elements and allowed this to be such a huge success."
The day concluded with a social gathering at Kennedy's Bar in Harlem, "At the church Frank Maguire spoke and did extend his gratitude for all the community has done and still does even after 30 years. At Kennedy's afterwards some had a cocktail and when they bar bought a drink, Frank asked what that was about, we all responded, 'You're in Montana!"
The Blaine County Museum in Chinook will be featuring "High Flight: Remembering the C-141 Collision of 1992 as their Winter 2022-Spring 2023 Exhibit. The exhibit tells the story of the crash just 9 miles north of Harlem and includes a vast collection of memorabilia provided entirely by Darwin Zellmer and the Airman Memorial Committee. The exhibit will be on display through May of 2023.
