Call to Arms: Help Restore the Gander Memorial Park
Call to Arms: Help Restore the Gander Memorial Park in Hopkinsville, KY
In the heart of Hopkinsville, Kentucky, the Gander Memorial Park stands as a solemn tribute to the 248 soldiers and crew members of the 101st Airborne Division who lost their lives in the tragic crash of Arrow Air Flight 1285 in Gander, Newfoundland, on December 12, 1985. These brave men and women made the ultimate sacrifice while returning home from peacekeeping duty—a journey that ended in profound loss and left lasting scars on families, comrades, and our entire community.
Now, nearly four decades later, the time has come to renew our commitment to honoring their legacy.
We are seeking donations to support the full renovation and enhancement of the Gander Memorial Park. This sacred space deserves to be more than a reminder of loss—it must stand as a powerful and enduring symbol of service, sacrifice, and the deep gratitude of a nation.
Your donation will help us:
Restore and enhance the physical structure of the memorial.
Improve accessibility and landscaping to make the park more welcoming to visitors and families.
Install educational and historical elements that tell the story of the fallen and the impact of their sacrifice.
Ensure that future generations understand the price of freedom and the honor owed to those who serve.
For the soldiers who never came home—and the families who live with their absence every day—we must offer the best possible physical manifestation of our respect and remembrance. A beautifully restored Gander Memorial Park will serve as both a place of reflection and a community promise: we remember, and we will never forget.
We invite individuals, businesses, and organizations to join us in this important effort. Every donation, no matter the size, brings us closer to honoring these heroes in the way they so deeply deserve.
To make a donation visit Dad's House Inc. or learn more about this vital project, please go to:
visithopkinsville.com/listing/gander-memorial-park/
kentuckytourism.com/explore/gander-memorial-park-6987
https://www.christiancountychamber.com/military-affairs/
Let us come together as a community—united in memory, purpose, and honor.
