the_vacant_chair
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the_vacant_chair [2019/02/13 17:06] tom |
the_vacant_chair [2020/04/08 12:17] tom |
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| =====The Vacant Chair===== | =====The Vacant Chair===== | ||
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| + | {{:crowder_01.jpg?500|}} | ||
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| + | Above Photo: Catherine Crowder | ||
| {{:tnk0n9mkvx.jpg|}} | {{:tnk0n9mkvx.jpg|}} | ||
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| During the time preceding the 50th year memorial service, there have been a few family members who have sent photos of their loved ones. These photos deserve a fitting place. | During the time preceding the 50th year memorial service, there have been a few family members who have sent photos of their loved ones. These photos deserve a fitting place. | ||
| - | I have decided to dedicate this space in honor of those who lost their lives on July 9, 1964 and to those family members who have graciously allowed me the privilege of sharing their photos and their words. | + | I have decided to dedicate this space in honor of those who lost their lives on July 9, 1964 and to those family members who have graciously allowed me the privilege of sharing their photos and their words. TD |
| //The Vacant Chair// was a popular song written during the era of the American Civil War. (Above photo: Courtesy of Larry Jordon) | //The Vacant Chair// was a popular song written during the era of the American Civil War. (Above photo: Courtesy of Larry Jordon) | ||
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| //Grave site marker: Union Cemetery Newport, Tennessee. Erected: September 2014// | //Grave site marker: Union Cemetery Newport, Tennessee. Erected: September 2014// | ||
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| ====Sam Orleans==== | ====Sam Orleans==== | ||
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| - | One of the strangest things, that fascinated me, was all the last minute changes to be on that flight. I always said if I had been an adult, I would have written a book about why every person was on that plane along with their back story. I am convinced everyone was fated be be there that day--probably the only way I could accept what happened. My Dad met a friend at the airport--they had an early supper--he called Mom and changed his ticket to the later flight. I know some other last minute changes that I will share later. The strangest thing was meeting Richard Yancey from the Tri-Cities area when I was in college. He befriended me--turned out he had a ticket to be on that plane and his Mom called and told him not to get on it because the family was driving to Washington to pick him up. He was already at the airport waiting to board the plane when he got the message. I always wondered what happened to him. | + | One of the strangest things, that fascinated me, was all the last minute changes to be on that flight. I always said if I had been an adult, I would have written a book about why every person was on that plane along with their back story. I am convinced everyone was fated to be there that day--probably the only way I could accept what happened. My Dad met a friend at the airport--they had an early supper--he called Mom and changed his ticket to the later flight. I know some other last minute changes that I will share later. The strangest thing was meeting Richard Yancey from the Tri-Cities area when I was in college. He befriended me--turned out he had a ticket to be on that plane and his Mom called and told him not to get on it because the family was driving to Washington to pick him up. He was already at the airport waiting to board the plane when he got the message. I always wondered what happened to him. |
| Please remember I am reaching back 50+ years in my memory. I am basing all of this on the stories my Mother told. She went to the hearings [Knoxville Public Hearing January, 1965 TD.] and met most of the families. | Please remember I am reaching back 50+ years in my memory. I am basing all of this on the stories my Mother told. She went to the hearings [Knoxville Public Hearing January, 1965 TD.] and met most of the families. | ||
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| I had just gotten out of the Army in June, so I was going to go with my grandmother, my mother and Bill to Knoxville. Then about 3 days before we were to leave I got a call for a job interview for the day after we were supposed to leave, so I decided it was more important to do the job interview and I decided not to go. | I had just gotten out of the Army in June, so I was going to go with my grandmother, my mother and Bill to Knoxville. Then about 3 days before we were to leave I got a call for a job interview for the day after we were supposed to leave, so I decided it was more important to do the job interview and I decided not to go. | ||
| - | I drove them to the airport and I thought my grandmother had talked to the airlines about the flight, but she hadn’t, so we went to counter and I helped them get the tickets. I stayed with them until they boarded. The three of them could board first because Bill was blind. | + | I drove them to the airport and I thought my grandmother had talked to the airlines about the flight, but she hadn’t, so we went to the counter and I helped them get the tickets. I stayed with them until they boarded. The three of them could board first because Bill was blind. |
| My father, my brother and I saw on the 11:00 pm news that the plane had crashed. At 2am United called and informed us they were on that plane and they had died. I remember that I had trouble sleeping until United called and said they had identified the body of my mother. We had my mother's funeral on a Wednesday and my grandmother's and Bill Whittaker's on Thursday. | My father, my brother and I saw on the 11:00 pm news that the plane had crashed. At 2am United called and informed us they were on that plane and they had died. I remember that I had trouble sleeping until United called and said they had identified the body of my mother. We had my mother's funeral on a Wednesday and my grandmother's and Bill Whittaker's on Thursday. | ||
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| //From Left to Right: Vince Richardson, Elizabeth Chesney Richardson, Vincent Richardson Sr. and Dale Richardson// | //From Left to Right: Vince Richardson, Elizabeth Chesney Richardson, Vincent Richardson Sr. and Dale Richardson// | ||
| + | ====In Remembrance:==== | ||
| ====William Whittaker==== | ====William Whittaker==== | ||
| {{:playground:bill_whittaker.jpg?400|}} | {{:playground:bill_whittaker.jpg?400|}} | ||
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| —Vince | —Vince | ||
| + | ====In Remembrance:==== | ||
| + | ====First Officer Charles L. Young Sr.==== | ||
| + | {{:charles_l._young.jpg?600|}} | ||
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| + | First Officer Charles L. Young Sr. flew for Capital Airlines and United Airlines. | ||
| + | In the Korean War, he was a pilot In the United States Air Force and flew the B-26 bomber. | ||
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| + | {{:playground:6715926695509706887_446_.jpg?600|}} | ||
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| + | The above picture was recently contributed by Charles Young Jr., after finding it among his father's possessions. | ||
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| [[start|United Flight 823]] | [[start|United Flight 823]] | ||
the_vacant_chair.txt · Last modified: 2021/07/23 17:24 by tom
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