The weather is stunningly gorgeous, a glorious last hurrah before winter and cold weather set in, making it a perfect day for a hike along the Constellation Trail.

Prescott is developing a well-deserved reputation for its network of trails, each beautiful and spectacular in its own way. However, none have the significance of the Constellation Trail, which travels through the Granite Dells. And last weekend, that significance was memorialized by Cody Walker as part of his Eagle Scout project.

You see, the beginning of this beautiful trail is also the site of a plane accident that occurred about 52 years ago. It was February 28, 1959, to be exact, when five Naval Airmen from Moffett Field in California, flying in a C-121G Military Air Transport Service plane, crashed, killing all aboard. The cause of the accident is unknown even today - black boxes weren't a standard piece of equipment back then. But pieces of metal are scattered in the area still, mute reminders of the tragedy that happened more than half a century ago.

According to a report by Nancy Burgess, the identities of those killed in the crash were:

• Lt. JG Theodore Rivenberg, Jr, an instructor pilot from Sunnyvale, California;
• Commander Lukas V. Dachs, a student pilot and executuve officer of Naval Transport Squadron 8 of Santa Clara, California;
• Lt. JG Edward Francis Souza, a student pilot from Sunnyvale, California;
• AD2 James F. Miller, engineer from Sunnyvale, California;
• Calvin C. Coons, a flight engineer from Sunnyvale, California;

Burgess writes, "Witnesses who were driving on Highway 89 at the time of the crash reported that the aircraft exploded and burned as soon as it hit the edgue of Highway 89 and that the west half of the highway was gouged up by the impact. The Ernest A. Love Field airport tower reported that one of the engines "feathered" as the airplane dived to earth. One of the engines was found smoldering just 15 feet from the edgue of the highway. Five acres of brush trees burned as a result of the crash. A plume of smoke rose high in the air and could be seen from Prescott, six miles away. The debris from the crash was spread over a half-mile area. For many years there was a large "patch" on the west side of Highway 89 where the pavement was repaired after the crash."

Because the accident occurred on privately owned property, public exploration of the crash site was severely limited. But, when the City of Prescott made an Open Space purchase of the land, it was felt that a memorial should be erected to these men who served their country with honor. But, how to make that happen?

Enter Cody Walker, 15, who needed an Eagle Scout project. His original plan was to create a few benches along some of Prescott's trails. But, after reading about the accident in a newspaper article by Cindy Barks, titled, "Plane crash in Prescott a half-century ago still a mystery," Walker immediately decided that he would build a memorial to these men.

And he did, with a lot of help from family, friends and local supporters. Last Saturday, October 8, was the celebration of Walker's efforts, as well as the solemn acknowledgement of the sacrifices by the airmen aboard the flight. As part of the memorial service, family members of the victims were invited to come and participate. Many did, meeting one another for the first time, with gratitude and tears, and finally receiving the sense of closure they had sought for more than 50 years.

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Walker, who appeared a bit overwhelmed by the recognition he received, nonetheless received the hugs and accolades with a solemn dignity, recognizing the importance of the event to the families. He explained,

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Those that Spoke at the Memorial

• Chris Hosking, City of Prescott Trails Specialist
• Rev. Kimball Arnold, St. Luke's Episcopal Church
• Mayor Marlin Kuykendall
• Councilman-elect Charlie Arnold
• Cody Walker, BSA Troop 10
• Patrick Kuykendall, Executive Director, CA Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve
• Robert F. "Dutch" Schoultz, Vice Admiral, USN (Ret.)
• Elisabeth Ruffner, Open Space Alliance & Prescott preservation Commission
• Troop 10 Boy Scouts did the Color Guard

The Following were recognized for their support and donations:

• Ron James Family
• City of Prescott
• Open Sapce Alliance
• City of Prescott Community Restitution Program
• Yavapai Couny Juvenile Probation Department
• Prescott Mountain Bike Alliance
• Phippen Museum
• Chris Hosking and the Over the Hill Gang
• Asphalt Paving & Supply and Arrowhead Materials
• Mike Williams and his crew
• Troop 10 Scouts and families
• Erie Landmark Company
• Various donors that contributed towards the bronze plaque

...and finally, the program ends with, "Special thanks and blessings to the family members of the men who lost their lives, for traveling so many miles for this Dedication.'

How to get there? Easy - just go to the Phippen Museum, and park in the lower dirt parking lot. The trail is on the south end of the parking lot, and traverses west, directly under Hwy 89. In just a few hundred feet, you'll be at the memorial. And from there, you can follow the trail in several directions.

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