Families from across the country gathered in St. Joseph, Michigan Saturday afternoon September 20, 2008 to finally obtain a measure of closure after losing their loved ones more than 58 years ago.
    Michigan Shipwreck Research Associates based out of Holland, Michigan started searching for the remains of the plane about five years ago. “We have yet to find the remains, but we found something more important I think,” said Valerie Van Heest Director of Michigan Shipwreck Research Associates (MSRA). Searching through old records, they found evidence of an unmarked grave in the Sextant's register at Riverview Cemetery in St. Joseph, Michigan. The line indicated that on July 1, 1950 victims of a plane crash were buried there.  Even though most of the families of victims of the crash held their own services in towns across the country in 1950, the service in 2008 was the first time victims had a memorial at their true resting place. “I’m so glad. It was really hard to come but I thought; it’s just one day in my life that I really don’t want to miss,” said Elizabeth Schulze, who came to the service from California. Her uncle died in the crash.
    Victim’s relatives wore pictures of their loved ones near their hearts, where the memories had never left. I was 16 when it happened and I can remember when my mother told us what had happened; I thought well maybe he didn’t get on the plane, maybe he’s safe somewhere; but of course that wasn’t true,” Schulze said.
    Some human remains washed ashore back in 1950. Discovery of the grave provided what became of them. The county coroner arranged for cremation and burial in a plot donated by the city.  The grave was not marked, and no family members were ever notified. “You don’t ever quite close the door on this happening because there wasn’t any closure,” Schulze said.    
    “We don’t know what remains are buried there, but for that reason I assume my mother’s are. So for the first time she's not  “lost.”  but it still doesn’t offer the answer why the accident happened,” said Bill Kaufmann of Oakland, California, whose mother died in the crash when he was six years old.
    There’s not so much sadness; I mean it’s been 58 years. They talk about completion and tying up loose ends, but there are a lot of things we still don’t know about,” said Robert K. Williams of Minnesota, whose cousin died in the crash.
    MSRA hopes to give the families that, too, by continuing the search for the wreckage in Lake Michigan. “Finding the grave has provided one answer, and finding the plane will provide the rest of the answers,” Van Heest said. But for some the answer to, “where?” helps closure finally start. “Just to have a picture in my mind of near where the plane crashed… and the beautiful place where they’re resting,” Schulze said.
    A few days after the crash in June of 1950, the Korean War started, which dominated the news coverage, so families found out very few details about the crash. None of the victims were local. The flight left New York headed for Minneapolis, and ultimately bound for Seattle. 
    In 2006 after not finding the wreck after two years of searching, Van Heest began a personal quest to track down the families to let them know their loved ones had not been forgotten and a search was underway to provide answers. By then, some of the relatives had passed on, but she found many direct descendants and most still wanted answers. Van Heest found 47 of the 58 families and have spoken personally to all of them.  About ten families from as far away as Virginia and California came to Michigan for the Ceremony. The headstone for the victims donated by Jeff Filbrandt of the Filbrandt funeral Home in South Haven, Michigan, was dedicated at the ceremony. It lists the names of all 55 passengers, and 3 crew members.
Excerpt from WNDU News Story by Ryan  Famuliner 9-20-08