Tribute honors plane crash victims as World Figure Skating Championships begin in Boston
The World Figure Skating Championships kicked off at TD Garden in Boston with a very emotional start. Before any skaters hit the ice to compete, the entire arena took time to honor the lives of those who sadly could not be there.
There were six lives taken far too soon from The Skating Club of Boston community back in January when their plane coming from Wichita, Kansas collided mid-air with a military helicopter in Washington, D.C.
"On the ice, they would be your most fierce competitors, and off the ice, they would be your most fierce fans," Boston Mayor Michelle Wu said during the ceremony.
Plane crash in Washington, D.C.
Sixty-seven people were killed in the January plane crash over the Potomac River. More than two dozen victims were tied to the figure skating community. Two coaches, two young figure skaters and their mothers killed in the plane crash were from The Skating Club of Boston.
Wednesday night, skaters and families from across the world came to Boston to share their love for the sport.
"As we begin, we remember that in moments of loss, we also find unity. In grief we find strength, and in remembrance we find hope," Gov. Maura Healey said.
Among those grieving, but finding hope was Doug Lane, who lost both his wife Christine, and son Spencer in the crash.
"Spencer had actually been selected to be an awards presenter at this event, so it was personally meaningful to me as well," Doug Lane said.
Before the World Figure Skating Championships began, Lane took to the ice giving a powerful tribute.
"Obviously, my preference would have been to be sitting in the stands with my wife cheering for him but given that he wasn't able to fulfill that duty, it was meaningful for me to be able to be kind of a poor stand in, in his place," Lane said.
The championships will continue at the Garden until Sunday.
