OSO, Wash. - A ceremony on Sunday honored he 43 people who lost their lives in the deadliest landslide in U.S. history.
Sunday marked one year after a rain-soaked hillside collapsed suddenly on March 22, 2014, sending millions of tons of sand and soil thundering across the valley, destroying dozens of homes and killing 43 people.
A procession to the memorial site was led by the Snohomish County Firefighters Pipes & Drums. They were assisted by the King County Firefighters Pipes & Drums, Seattle Firefighter's Pipes & Drums, and Puget Sound Firefighters Pipes & Drums.
Every name was read aloud, followed by the bell to honor their life. The names mean so much to the friends and family who will never forget.
Cole Hadaway came to remember his uncle Stephen.
"I didn't want to believe it at first because to me my uncle is a survivor, he was in the marines," he said.
Hadaway said it was emotional returning to the site but he cherishes the time he had with his uncle.
"I know one day I'm going to see him again he's going to be waiting there for me," Hadaway said.
Cheryl Burrows lost her home in the slide. She is grateful that her family was not home when it hit but they lost friends, neighbors and five pets.
"This is always going to be with us, we're real lucky we're alive." Burrows said she especially misses her friend Shelly Bellomo. "She was just a bundle of sunshine, every day she'd say good morning and hug me."
The grief is still very raw but Oso Fire Chief Willy Harper believes some healing will come with time.
"I think they are still healing there's a lot of people that have the same look on their face as they did a year ago and I don't expect that change for quite a while."
The sadness runs deep but there are signs of hope, 43 trees now grow along SR 530 one for every victim and there is talk of eventually putting a permanent memorial at the site.
