50th Anniversary of TWA Flight 514 Remembrance Ceremony 

The Bluemont Citizens Association hosted a private ceremony for families of the 92 lives lost on TWA Flight 514 on Dec. 1, 1974. This event occurred on Sunday, Dec. 1, at 1 p.m., on the 50th anniversary of the crash. 

The ceremony took place at the Bluemont Community Center, which served as the emergency operations center and morgue during the recovery effort. TWA Flight 514 crashed into the Blue Ridge Mountains above the Village of Bluemont while on approach to Washington Dulles International Airport. There were no survivors.

Thirty-two of the 92 onboard were U.S. military veterans. Given that this accident occurred on private property, no memorial service was ever held. The Bluemont Citizens Association unveil a bronze plaque and black granite memorial during the remembrance ceremony. 

TWA Flight 514 is considered one of the most pivotal accidents in our nation’s history regarding aviation safety improvements. NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy was the ceremony keynote speaker. Over 200 family members and nearly 100 airline personnel, first responders, government personnel, military members, elected officials, and members of the community attended. 

A big thank you to the ceremony sponsors: the Air Line Pilots Association, the Allied Pilots Association, the Association of Professional Flight Attendants, Bluemont Citizens Association, Bluemont United Methodist Church, Blue Ridge Mountain Civic Association, Epling Landscaping and Lawn Services, Grand Event Center, Mr. Print, Rinker & Frye Memorials, and Wegmans.

The Bluemont Citizens Association was created in 1955 as a neighborhood association dedicated to improving the Bluemont community and protecting, celebrating, and preserving its rural heritage and character.

Feature photo caption: Pictured is Gregory Williams Jr. the grandson of James H. Larkins Sr. who lost his life in the crash.