Mourning,Ritual and Recovery after an Airline Tragedy

Abstract

The crash of a chartered Army jetliner in Gander, Newfoundland in 1985 resulted in the deaths of 248 soldiers from one battalion stationed in Fort Campbell, Kentucky. This article describes the multiple mourning rituals enacted by the geographically localized family members, other battalion members, and other soldiers at the base and examines the functions of these rituals in contributing to group and individual recovery. Such rituals encouraged the participants to confront their losses, separate the past from the present and future and, thereby, promoted individual and group autonomy. Autonomy was demonstrated by individually and collectively working-through their losses, reintegrating into the community, reaffirming community solidarity, and strengthening community ties.

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