On the night of March 29, officials from Fort Campbell’s 101st Airborne Division confirmed the worst when, during a routine training exercise, nine U.S. soldiers died in western Trigg County following the collision of two HH-60 Blackhawk helicopters.
On the morning of Monday, October 23, at the 4.5-mile-marker of Maple Grove Road, local dignitaries, and nearby citizens will offer a moment of respect and emotional closure for families and faculty — marking the crash site with an official sign honoring the fallen.
It is an unenviable task, but one Judge-Executive Stan Humphries noted must be done, and done well.
The measure of respect, he said, will be just the beginning of a three-part process. Step two will eventually involve a message to the fiscal court, and a beseeching of the Kentucky General Assembly to codify a memorial sign be placed somewhere nearby along U.S. 68/80. Much further down the road, step three will involve the site selection and development of an all-encompassing military memorial — one that chronicles Trigg County’s deep history in the nation’s Armed Forces.
Roots that run all the way back to the Revolutionary War.
As for Monday’s supreme focus, officials with the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet have already announced that from 8-11 AM, KY 1062/Maple Grove Road will be closed at the 4.5 mile marker — from the Lancaster Road intersection to eight-tenths of a mile south of the KY 272/Canton Pike intersection.
This will allow for safe parking and serene quiet for public officials and families attending — many of which, Humphries noted, haven’t been able to access the area since the fatal crash.
During this road closure, motorists may detour by using Oak Grove Church and Old Dover roads.
Not only have families and officials from the Fort Campbell installation been invited, but Humphries has notified leadership from Montgomery, Stewart and Christian County as well — seeing as the four municipalities share land, and sometimes emergency response, with the military base.
Trigg County’s rush to the crash has been lauded by Fort Campbell authorities, who in a March 30 press conference confirmed timely first response and effective communication lanes.
Less than 72 hours after the incident, Humphries said a soft memorial was placed near the site.
Humphries apologized for the possible inconvenience of the road closure, but urged the space was too small to allow thru-traffic during and after the ceremony.
