Cerritos Air Disaster Memorial – Cerritos, CA - Disaster Memorials on Waymarking.com

The “Cerritos Air Disaster Memorial” was the first piece commissioned for the Cerritos Sculpture Garden.

On August 31, 1986 two planes collided above Cerritos, resulting in a tragedy that claimed 82 lives and prompted the implementation of safer procedures for airport approaches and departures.

Artist Kathleen Caricof sculpted three individual pieces to represent the three groups of people who perished in the Cerritos Air Disaster. Two pieces are free-form shapes in marble and granite that evoke wings, commemorating the victims on the planes. These abstract sculptures are complemented by a bench commemorating the victims on the ground and offering visitors a place to rest and reflect. The names of the victims are listed on the pedestals holding the two wing-like pieces. The smaller pedestal is dedicated "in loving memory" of those who perished on the ground, and the larger pedestal is dedicated "in memory" of those who perished aboard the two planes. The names on both pedestals are listed in alphabetical order.

The dedication at the base of the bench reads:

ON AUGUST 31, 1986 AT 11:56 A.M., TWO PLANES COLLIDED ABOVE A CERRITOS NEIGHBORHOOD IN THE VACINITY OF CARMENITA ROAD AND 183RD STREET. THE TRAGIC ACCIDENT CLAIMED 82 LIVES, DESTROYED 11 HOMES AND SEVERLY DAMAGED SEVEN OTHERS. THE COLLOSION WAS PARTIALLY CAUSED BY INADEQUATE AIRPORT APPROACH AND DEPARTURE CONTROLS.

THE TRAGEDY BECAME KNOWN AS THE CERRITOS AIR DISASTER AND RESULTED IN IMPLELEMTATION OF SAFER PROCEDURES FOR AIRPORT APPROACHES AND DEPARTURES.

THE PEOPLE OF CERRITOS OFFER THIS MEMORIAL IN MEMORY OF THOSE WHO PERISHED IN THE CERRITOS AIR DISASTER. MAY THIS MEMORIAL OFFER COMFORT AND SERENITY TO THOSE WHO LOST LOVED ONES IN THE TRAGEDY.

References:
Sculpture Garden
Wikipedia

Cerritos Civic Center Address:
18125 Bloomfield Avenue, Cerritos, CA 90703
Parking is available.

Disaster Date: 08/31/1986 Date of dedication: 03/11/2006 Memorial Sponsors: City of Cerritos Disaster Type: Technological Relevant Website: [Web Link] Parking Coordinates: Not Listed

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