Scheduled Events: current and past
Grand Canyon Historical Society
is hosting a Virtual Outing
Tuesday, April 8, 2025
6:00 PM PDT, 7:00 MDT, 8:00 CDT, 9:00 PM EDT
Mike Nelson will present Part 3 of
We Are Going In
The Story of the 1956 Grand Canyon Midair Collision
Part three will focus on the family members and friends who lost a loved one in the disaster. Their sufferings are very special because they are in a very small, unique group pertaining to disasters. Most of us do not realize the trauma of what these tragic souls went through. It was not nearly as simple as it might seem. They went through escalating level after level of torture.
Mike will be revealing his understanding of that terrible ordeal, with the aim not only of conveying history, but also, hopefully, helping us all to feel our own humanity more deeply.
We look forward to seeing you
To Zoom into the meeting link (for this meeting only) :
https://us06web.zoom.us/just/89723230356?pwd=lfqmHaEHcnHSM4wibXZaoXcDoTJjBX.1
Meeting ID: 897 2323 0356
Passcode: 540999
© 2025 Patrons of the 1956 Grand Canyon Midair Collision
Tom Sulpizio will be hosting this year's memorial service at Grand Canyon Pioneer Cemetery, remembering and honoring those who lost their lives on United Flight 718, and then at Flagstaff Citizens' Cemetery, in Flagstaff, for those of TWA Flight 2.
Friday, June 30, 2023
Patrons of the 1956 Grand Canyon Midair Collision
and
THE GRAND CANYON HISTORICAL SOCIETY
67th Commemoration Program
Pioneer Cemetery in Grand Canyon Village
Citizens' Cemetery at 1300 S. San Francisco St, Flagstaff, AZ 86001
-
10:30am - Meet at Pioneer Cemetery in Grand Canyon Village, with brief introductions by everyone who cares to participate.
-
10:45 am - Floral arrangement will be placed at the United Air Lines memorial.
-
10:50 am - Comments and a eulogy will be given by your host, Tom Sulpizio.
-
11:20 am - Brief comments about the Swiss alpinists from the 1956 United recovery team will be given by a guest visitor from Switzerland.
-
11:30 am - Comments are welcomed from all attendees.
-
11:45 am - Walk to Yavapai Tavern for a restroom break and enjoy lunch, hosted by Tom Sulpizio, on behalf of Patrons of the 1956 Grand Canyon Midair Collision.
-
1:30 pm - Finish eating and socializing.
-
1:35 pm - Drive to Flagstaff Citizens' Cemetery (approximately: 90 minutes)
-
3:10 pm - Meet at the TWA gravesite, where a floral arrangement will be placed and brief comments will be made.
-
3:30 pm - This concludes the commemoration. Thank you for coming.
Sunday, June 30, 2024 Memorial Service
I am sorry to say that we will not be hosting a formal nor an informal service on Sunday, June 30th. Our vice president, Tom Sulpizio has always been at the canyon on this date to honor not only his father, but to honor all of the victims. However, this year he has prior commitments and he will not be available on this date. Tom will be in Flagstaff, Arizona on July, 12 to place flowers on the TWA gravesite in Flagstaff Citizens' Cemetery, and on July 13, he will be out at the canyon and he will place flowers at the United gravesite in Grand Canyon Village Pioneer Cemetery.
We are sincerely sorry to disappoint those who were counting on someone representing Patrons of the 1956 Grand Canyon Midair Collision. The Park Service may be conducting a small vigil at Pioneer Cemetery, but that has not been confirmed.
If you are in Flagstaff, and/or out at Grand Canyon on June 30th, please feel free to pay your respects and honor those victims.
My sincere apologies.
Barbara Nelson
secretary of Patrons of the 1956 Grand Canyon Midair Collision
Patrons of the 1956 Grand Canyon Midair Collision is proud to announce their first hosting of a memorial program honoring the victims of this tragic accident. The group's president, and author of We Are Going In, Mike Nelson; vice president, Thomas E. Sulpizio; and secretary, Barbara Nelson worked on this for over a year, and have put together what they believe to be a full and interesting day. June 30, 2022 is the 66th anniversary of the tragedy.
The day will commence at the Grand Canyon's Desert View amphitheater, followed in the afternoon at the Pioneer Cemetery for a memorial service to honor those who lost their lives on the United DC-7. At Flagstaff Citizens' Cemetery a memorial service honoring the TWA victims will end the program.
We feel privileged to present this full day event.
