Friends and families of the 230 victims of the crash of TWA Flight 800 gathered at the stately memorial at Smith Point County Park in Shirley last Friday evening to commemorate the 8th anniversary of the air crash which occurred off the shores of East Moriches.
Suffolk County Legislator Pete OLeary met with John Seaman, director of the Families of TWA Flight 800 organization, to discuss plans of beach and shore line preservation. Seamans group is responsible for the graceful memorial which has become a healing garden for the family and friends of the air disaster, as well as a place of solace for residents and visitors to the ocean-front park.
OLeary said that the county plans to extend a steel sea wall eastward - similar to one that was buried, several years ago, in front of the ocean-front pavilion. Seaman said that he was assured that the sea wall would not obstruct the view of the crash site from the memorial.
Currently, visitors to the sweeping circular memorial can look across the dunes to view the ocean vista where their loved ones perished eight years ago.
I understand how this view toward the ocean can bring great comfort to the families, said OLeary, who is working with the foundation to secure county funding to assist in the maintenance of the memorial.
