Central Vermont's Largest Employer Marks Tragedy With New Memorial

Montpelier, VT -- Forty years ago on October 25, 1968, a Northeast airliner carrying 22 Vermonters traveling on business and pleasure crashed on Moose Mountain in New Hampshire while attempting to land at the Lebanon airport. Four of those who perished and one survivor were employed by National Life Insurance Company in Montpelier.

In honor of these Vermonters, a new bronze plaque will be unveiled at National Life Group's home office at 4:00 p.m. on Thursday, October 23, 2008.

Thirty-two people lost their lives in the accident. The National Life employees who lost their lives were Ferdinand Feola of Montpelier (age 30), Gary Gravel of Burlington (age 21), Philip Havelka of Plainfield (age 29), and Terry Hudson of Montpelier (age 33). It was a tremendous blow to the company to lose so many associates at once. The one National Life survivor, George Collins of Montpelier (age 32) suffered severe injuries which required months of recovery. He owed his survival to giving up his window seat to another man who perished in the crash.

Each of these Vermonters employed at National Life will be honored on the new plaque.

Families and friends of the victims will be in attendance as the National Life Group remembers and honors its associates who perished four decades ago.

The company invites all who worked at the company or knew any of the crash victims to attend.

(October 20, 2008)