Flyover at Memorial Service

Doug Wilson was the pilot in a flyover this morning at the 80th Anniversary Memorial Service for Knute Rockne and the other seven men who died on March 31, 1931, when their plane crashed near Bazaar in Chase County.

Knute’s grandson, Nils Rockne, was one of the speakers at today’s ceremony, which was attended by, I’d guess, between 200-300 people, some of whom were from Indiana, Notre Dame. A bagpipe player added a nice touch to the event.

Much recognition was also given to the late Easter Heathman who, at age 13, had been one of the first on the scene of the crash. During his adult years, he tended to the crash site with loving care, recounting his memories and giving countless tours to the crash site, which is in the middle of a pasture, a mile or more from a public road.