Four decades after the deadliest aviation crash on Canadian soil, two Americans who lost loved ones in the Arrow Air disaster say they needed to visit Gander to share their gratitude with those who feel their grief.

Some 256 li ves were lost in the plane crash on Dec. 12, 1985, including 248 American soldiers from the U.S. Army Airborne 101st division, headed home from Sinai, Egypt for Christmas.

An annual memorial service is scheduled for Friday in Gander, where the plane crashed.

Ronald Peck, a retired member of the army, lost friends in the crash.

He was supposed to be on the plane, he told CBC News, but his lieutenant changed his flight so that he could head back to Kentucky early and prepare for the rest of his team's arrival.

"It took them a couple hours before we actually foun

See Full Page