New Ways to Remember Montana’s Mann Gulch Tragedy
As a powerful period of recollection of the Mann Gulch firefighter tragedy concludes, the 75th-anniversary commemoration is also showing new ways for future generations to remember the sacrifice.
Last week marked the anniversary of the tragic fire in Central Montana when 13 firefighters were caught in a massive "blow up" and died. That was a dozen smokejumpers and nearly the entire crew, although the three survivors' lives were forever changed.
During the main ceremony in Helena and subsequent graveside events across Montana and the region, we learned how the survivors are being remembered.
New, special medallions
Last Saturday in Darby, smokejumpers, today's firefighters, and a few surviving family members paid tribute to Marvin L. "Dick" Sherman, who is interred at the Lone Pine Cemetery. His tombstone and those of his fellow firefighters are now given a special medallion in recognition of their sacrifice at Mann Gulch.
"We take those lessons with us," said former smokejumper Luke Barrett. "It's a tragedy that they lost their lives, but they got to leave a legacy behind them."
READ MORE: The Pain Remains 75 Years After Mann Gulch
A new trail
Last year, students from C.R. Anderson Middle School in Helena teamed with Wild Montana and the Forest Service to rehabilitate the trail leading to the Mann Gulch Overlook and getting the path on the National Recreation Trail Registry.
That gives the trail additional attention and will help preserve the trail and the overlook so that the story of the tragedy above the Missoula River can be kept for future generations.
Miss Montana
Of course, Montana's official plane, the "Miss Montana" is one of the best tributes. The plane, which dropped the firefighters into the scene, is completely restored and flying. It participated in flyovers of the ceremonies this past week, taking some family members on flights. And there's a permanent display about Mann Gulch at the Museum of Mountain Flying in Missoula.