On the 42nd anniversary of the October 20, 1977 plane crash that claimed the lives of three members of Lynyrd Skynyrd, their road manager, and the two pilots, a black granite monument to those lost was unveiled in Gillsburg, Mississippi.
Hundreds gathered for the ceremony, including singer Ronnie Van Zant’s widow Judy, guitarist Steve Gaines’s daughter Corrina, and several other family members.
Judy spoke, saying, “Our family would like to thank you, all of you, for everything you’ve done to make this project and make this day happen. A lot of the local people are here, and we really appreciate everything that you’ve ever done for our family and for Lynyrd Skynyrd.”
Fans raised $65,000 for the monument, which was the idea of some of the residents who’d participated in the rescue and who had the backing of Skynyrd.
The monument is eight feet tall and 14 feet wide, and sits 400 yards from the crash site. It details the plane’s ill-fated flight, as well as the heroic efforts of those who helped rescue the survivors. Skynyrd were flying to Baton Rouge, Louisiana for a concert at Louisiana State University when their leased plane ran out of fuel and crashed.
Unveiling of the Lynyrd Skynyrd memorial monument today in Gillsburg, MS near the crash site. @RollingStone @mitchlafon @TheEJlive @skynyrdpodcast @RockHistoryPix pic.twitter.com/6mobUvVJYp
— Brad Wilson (@gillsburgbrad) October 20, 2019
