20-year Commemoration
On October 31, 2014, Flight 4184 families, loved ones, members of the local community, responders, and others affected by this tragic disaster came together to mark the passage of 20 years since the crash and to dedicate a new, permanent memorial wall at the accident site. The evening before, Thursday, October 30, 2014, the 4184 families and local community hosted a public forum in which key individuals involved in the response and investigation discussed their experiences and Flight 4184's legacy. They spoke of the lessons learned and improvements made in pilot training, aircraft design and certification, understanding the effects of different icing conditions, emergency response and the coordination of support services for survivors and family members following commercial transportation disasters.
As those who have shared the path of a sudden loss of a loved one well know, healing is a long journey. Each individual navigates their unique path in their own time, in their own way, and are often at different stages at any given time. One of the goals of the 20-year commemoration was to facilitate further healing, growth, and renewal for all of those affected. Those who attended were provided an opportunity to discover and become a part of a greater new-found community, have long-standing questions answered, and make or renew acquaintances with people who have shared their experience or provided support along the way.
We hope everyone came to understand just how much the 68 souls mattered - not just to those who loved each individual, but to all who were touched in some way by Flight 4184, and to the countless others, many of whom will never know our story, who travel the skies in safer planes flown by better-trained pilots and whose families will know an easier way if the worst happens.
As those who have shared the path of a sudden loss of a loved one well know, healing is a long journey. Each individual navigates their unique path in their own time, in their own way, and are often at different stages at any given time. One of the goals of the 20-year commemoration was to facilitate further healing, growth, and renewal for all of those affected. Those who attended were provided an opportunity to discover and become a part of a greater new-found community, have long-standing questions answered, and make or renew acquaintances with people who have shared their experience or provided support along the way.
We hope everyone came to understand just how much the 68 souls mattered - not just to those who loved each individual, but to all who were touched in some way by Flight 4184, and to the countless others, many of whom will never know our story, who travel the skies in safer planes flown by better-trained pilots and whose families will know an easier way if the worst happens.
Flight 4184 Roadside Monument
In 2011, the Flight 4184 families determined it was time to create a long-lasting, sustainable, lower maintenance roadside memorial to replace the 68 white crosses that have been lovingly taken care of for 20 years by local volunteers.
After successfully securing funds, our plaques for the wall were ordered, the stone was picked out, our loved ones names were sand-blasted into the stone, and we broke ground in September 2014. In five short weeks our monument was complete.
This was no small task. The efforts to see this through were commendable and we thank: the Newtown County Commissioner's Office, the Newtown County Building Commissioner; Dave Allison; Mark Trinia; Blast Masters, LLC of New Palestine, IN; General Shale of Carmel, IN; Indiana Brick Corporation of Westfield, IN; the Guerrero family; Larry and Nate Albanese; and Jeff Johnson.
We sincerely appreciate the time, dedication, thoughtfulness, and care shown by all involved.
After successfully securing funds, our plaques for the wall were ordered, the stone was picked out, our loved ones names were sand-blasted into the stone, and we broke ground in September 2014. In five short weeks our monument was complete.
This was no small task. The efforts to see this through were commendable and we thank: the Newtown County Commissioner's Office, the Newtown County Building Commissioner; Dave Allison; Mark Trinia; Blast Masters, LLC of New Palestine, IN; General Shale of Carmel, IN; Indiana Brick Corporation of Westfield, IN; the Guerrero family; Larry and Nate Albanese; and Jeff Johnson.
We sincerely appreciate the time, dedication, thoughtfulness, and care shown by all involved.
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Completed Monument |
The Legacy of American Eagle Flight 4184 Public Forum
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Our goal was to honor the memory of those lost by exploring the many changes that resulted, in full or in part, from the Flight 4184 tragedy. Through investigation, advocacy, determination, persistence and courage, those who acted to effect change made a profound difference that continues to resonate today. As we looked back and reflect on that fateful day 20 years ago, our hope was some would find comfort in understanding the full Legacy of Flight 4184: that passengers are safer, pilots are more effectively trained, aircraft are better designed, responders are more prepared, and there is coordination of support services for survivors and family members following commercial transportation disasters.
We captured the public forum on film. When it is completed, we will post it on this site. Our heartfelt thank you to everyone who made this event possible. For more information about the event, please click below to download the program booklet. 
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Jennifer Lee - artist
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The 20 year commemoration event organizers sought an appropriate "thank you" gift for our public forum speakers and planning support team. Their search discovered artist Jennifer Lee of Columbus, Ohio who creates mixed-media art and also has a passion for travel.
Jennifer's "Wanderbloom" print inspired her idea for a Flight 4184 appreciation gift and we agreed that it could be beautifully recreated for our purpose. Jennifer carefully researched our accident, our loved ones, and even visited Roselawn in October 2014 to pay her respects. To the right is her creation. It features 68 circles created from maps, each representing the hometown of one of our loved ones, along with Chicago, Indianapolis, and Roselawn. Jennifer created this custom piece by cutting maps out, gluing them together, hand painting certain areas like the "4184", and finally converting the result to electronic format for duplication. Her understanding of our unique situation and ability to respectfully honor our loved ones shows in her final piece, which we found simply unique and beautiful. Thank you, Jennifer! Please note: this is a copyrighted piece of artwork especially commissioned for Flight 4184. This will not be sold or recreated in the future for any pieces or placed on any other materials. We appreciate your understanding. Thank you. |
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Roadside Memorial Service & Fellowship Dinner
On Friday, October 31, 2014, Flight 4184 families, friends and the community came together for a private roadside memorial service, monument dedication, and fellowship dinner.
The weather could not have been more fitting for our roadside service - cold temperatures, rain/snow mixture, and high winds all reminiscent of October 31, 1994. Rev Kathy Hosteler from Roselawn's United Methodist Church delivered a message of hope and healing, while select family members read all 68 names, prior to a moment of silence at the time of impact.
Following the service, many families and friends came together at the Radisson Hotel at Star Plaza in Merrillville, IN for dinner and fellowship. Jan Sjöberg, family member and minister, delivered a heartfelt invocation. He relayed a personal message from his journey and closed with a meaningful nighttime lullaby sung in Swedish, in which he translated to English. At the conclusion of dinner, families were able to meet with the Guerrero family and obtain their crosses to take home.
The families would like to thank the countless individuals who made these two events possible. We truly appreciated your support.
The weather could not have been more fitting for our roadside service - cold temperatures, rain/snow mixture, and high winds all reminiscent of October 31, 1994. Rev Kathy Hosteler from Roselawn's United Methodist Church delivered a message of hope and healing, while select family members read all 68 names, prior to a moment of silence at the time of impact.
Following the service, many families and friends came together at the Radisson Hotel at Star Plaza in Merrillville, IN for dinner and fellowship. Jan Sjöberg, family member and minister, delivered a heartfelt invocation. He relayed a personal message from his journey and closed with a meaningful nighttime lullaby sung in Swedish, in which he translated to English. At the conclusion of dinner, families were able to meet with the Guerrero family and obtain their crosses to take home.
The families would like to thank the countless individuals who made these two events possible. We truly appreciated your support.
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