Troopers thank Clarence community for help in Flight 3407 crash
Mutual appreciation expressed for performance during trying days
State Police Maj. Christopher L. Cummings carries a reminder of Flight 3407 wherever he goes. Safely tucked away inside the left shirt pocket of his uniform is a folded copy of a note that family members of those who died in the Feb. 12 plane crash issued after visiting the site in Clarence Center.
“If you were to measure how my troopers performed, this is the ultimate gauge,” Cummings said Thursday, taking the note from his pocket at a gathering in Clarence Town Hall to thank the community for its unwavering support during the hectic days following the crash that killed 50 people.
The major, often choking back his emotions, said he plans to carry the note with him for the rest of his career. It’s in his left breast pocket, he explained, because that’s the closest spot to his heart.
It’s a simple message that, in part, states:
“The respect you have given to us, our families, and especially the respect and dignity you are giving to our loved ones who were aboard Continental Flight 3407 is valued and appreciated by all of us.”
Cummings was surrounded by about 45 troopers, 25 Clarence Center Volunteer Fire Company firefighters and Ladies Auxiliary members as he expressed gratitude to an audience of 60 residents and town employees.
“You gave us 12 days of hot meals, coffee and a warm place to go at the fire hall, as well as words of encouragement, and that was a critical component of the operation,” Cummings said of the hospitality.
Troopers, he added, may have worn stern faces when manning roadblocks to secure the perimeter of the Long Street crash site, but they, too, were hurting inside from the scale of the tragedy.
And while it was the kind words of the families of those lost and the support of the community that live on for Cummings, others also have memories they say they will never forget.
For Capt. Steven A. Nigrelli, it was standing at 11 p. m. in front of the blazing plane as it consumed the Wielinski family’s home.
“Seeing the tail of the plane sticking up at the back of the property was surreal. As I’d rushed to the scene, the first call was for a small plane, but it was updated to a possible commercial airliner and then to be standing there thinking of the major loss of life . . . ” Nigrelli said, his voice trailing off.
Another memory, he said, was the briefing he and Cummings provided to the family members on Sunday, the day before they were transported to the site.
“There was utter despair and heartbreak in their eyes,” Nigrelli said.
For Timothy Norris, the first assistant chief of the Clarence Center Fire Department who was the first firefighter on the scene, the enduring memory was how well everyone worked together.
“It was a massive fire,” Norris said, “and the response was well coordinated.”
Town Supervisor Scott Bylewski also felt the unified response was the most outstanding accomplishment. He was so impressed that early on, Bylewski alerted Town Historian Mark Woodward to take steps to collect information on how the town came together.
“I wanted to capture some of the oral histories before they were lost,” Bylewski said.
At the close of Thursday’s gathering, more was added to what will be the official record of the great tragedy that struck Clarence eight weeks ago.
It came in the form of two plaques presented to Bylewski and Norris by Trooper Jack Moretti, on behalf of the troopers’ union.
“The mission was made easier for us,” Moretti said because of the kindness and support troopers encountered in Clarence. lmichel@buffnews.com and ncervantes@buffnews.com
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