Chief fire officer of Weld County, Jeremy Young, spoke. The plane crashed in Weld County and they are going to be putting up a memorial there as well.

Good evening, everyone. It is an honor to be here this evening. For those of you who do not know me, my name is Jeremy Young, and I am the Fire Chief of the Frederick-Firestone Fire District in Weld County. It is a distinct honor to serve our community alongside 94 other personnel, providing fire protection, emergency medical services, emergency management, community risk reduction, and special rescue operations.

When Flight 629 fell from the sky 70 years ago, scattering debris across miles of farmland, our community responded immediately and overwhelmingly. First responders from Firestone, Frederick, Longmont, and throughout Weld County rushed to the scene despite the darkness and the scope of devastation they would encounter. Volunteer firefighters left their dinner tables, sheriff’s deputies left their posts, and ambulance crews faced scenes that would stay with them forever. These brave men and women confronted horror and chaos with courage and compassion.

But the response extended far beyond those wearing badges or uniforms. Local farmers immediately offered their property, their equipment, and their knowledge of the land. Neighbors arrived with lanterns and flashlights to aid in the search. Local businesses and community members brought coffee and sandwiches to sustain the workers through the long, cold night and the days to come. Citizens who had never met before worked side by side, united in their determination to treat the victims with dignity and to support the recovery efforts. This was rural Colorado at its finest—a community transforming its shock and sorrow into service and solidarity. The way Weld County responded that night and in the days that followed demonstrated that darkness cannot extinguish the light of human compassion and community spirit.

For too long, there has been no permanent memorial to mark this tragedy, no dedicated place where families could come to remember, where our community could pay its respects, where future generations could learn about this pivotal moment in our history. The establishment of this future memorial at Frederick-Firestone Fire Station 6 changes that. Located near where Flight 629 fell to the earth, housed at a fire station that represents the continuity of emergency service in our community, this memorial will serve as a permanent tribute to those lost and the heroes to be recognized.

This memorial will stand as more than stone and metal—it will be a living testament to memory and meaning. It will provide families with a sacred space for reflection and remembrance. It will educate young people about a crucial chapter in our local history. It will honor the first responders and citizens who exemplified the best of humanity in the worst of circumstances. And it will remind all who visit… that even in tragedy…communities can unite, serve, and heal together.

The placement of this memorial at our Fire Station No.6 carries profound significance. Just as firefighters and emergency personnel stand ready to serve our community today, their predecessors answered an unprecedented call on that November night in 1955. This unbroken chain of service, this tradition of running toward danger to help others, deserves our recognition and our gratitude. Every time our current first responders pass this memorial, they will be reminded of the legacy they carry forward.

As we move forward with creating the Weld County 629 Memorial, we do so with purpose and determination. We build this memorial to ensure that the 44 people who boarded Flight 629 are remembered not as statistics or victims, but as individuals whose lives had value, whose deaths had meaning, and whose memory deserves preservation. We build it to acknowledge that tragedy, while it may shake us, does not break us. We build it to demonstrate that remembrance is not just about looking backward, but about carrying forward the lessons of courage, community, and compassion.

When I look upon our community and fire district today, I see something remarkable—that same spirit of service and compassion that emerged from the darkness of 1955 still burns brightly in 2025. It lives in our first responders who answer the call at all hours. It thrives in our neighborhoods, where people look out for one another. It endures in the very heart of what makes our communities special.

Our fire district carries a motto that speaks to who we are: “Leading Together, by Serving Together.” These aren’t just words for wall art within our fire stations, on our letterhead, or on our fire engines. This motto was forged in moments like November 1, 1955, when our predecessors showed us what it truly means to lead through service, to find strength in unity, and most of all, to love thy neighbor. Seventy years ago, our community proved that we are strongest not when we stand alone, but when we stand together—and today, we are deeply honored to carry that same spirit of service forward.

Together, we are transforming tragedy into tribute. Together, we are creating a place where grief finds comfort, where service finds recognition, and where memory finds its eternal home. Those lost and those who served in response will never be forgotten—not as long as this community continues to embody the very best of who we were then, who we are now, and who we will always strive to be.

Thank you, truly, from the bottom of our hearts, for allowing us to be a part of this honoring event here this evening and for being part of this lasting legacy of remembrance and hope.

May God bless and keep each of you.

Jeremy A. Young
Fire Chief
Frederick-Firestone Fire District
October 31, 2025 – Flight 629 Memorial Weekend
Denver Country Club