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<< Previous   of   Next >> Mark Mulligan / The Herald  (click to enlarge) Friends and families of the nine skydivers and pilot dubbed "Our 10" who died last year in a plane crash in the Cascades gathered at Fred's Rivertown Ale House on Tuesday night in Snohomish. Mark Mulligan / The Herald  (click to enlarge) Friends and families of "Our 10" gather a year after their deaths.  Photo Gallery: Crash Claims Local Skydivers  Photo Gallery: Crash Victims   ADVERTISEMENT   Related Stories • A year after plane crash, pain still fresh for families 10/5/08   CONTACT THE HERALD Robert Frank, City Editor frank@heraldnet.com   Published: Wednesday, October 8, 2008 10 victims of plane crash honored a year after their deaths By Katya Yefimova Herald Writer SNOHOMISH -- It could have been a party at any bar, only this one was missing 10 people. It was the anniversary of the worst plane crash in America in 2007, where nine skydivers and a pilot were killed. They were members of Skydive Snohomish, a local parachutist club. On Tuesday night, family and friends came to Fred's Rivertown Ale House to share stories and remember what they lost in the tragedy last year. Some of the people who went to the bar -- a popular hangout where people go after they've been skydiving -- actually hiked out to the crash site in the Cascade Range earlier in the day. One of those people was Emily Martin, 20, of Snohomish, who lost her friend Andy Smith when the Cessna 208 crashed on Oct. 7, 2007. Martin said the families put up a plaque with the names the people who died near the place where the plane went down. She said they also left a book for everybody to sign. "People kept coming all day," she said. "I was really proud of all the parents who went up there. It was very hard for them." Despite the snow and the distance, Martin said the hike was a soothing experience. "I feel more at peace now," she said. By late Tuesday evening, the bar was packed with people celebrating the lives and mourning the loss of the group that's become known in skydiving circles as Our 10. They were: Casey Craig, 30, Bothell; Ralph Abdo, 27, Issaquah; Landon Atkin, 20, Snohomish; Michelle Barker, 22, Kirkland; Cecil Elsner, 20, Lake Stevens; Bryan Jones, 34, Redmond; pilot Phil Kibler, 47, Snohomish; Hollie Rasberry, 24, Bellingham; Jeff Ross, 28, Snohomish; and Andy Smith, 20, Lake Stevens. Martin said she remembered how Smith loved the blue-and-yellow wings tattooed on his ankles. "The colors matched his parachute, and he loved it." The party at Fred's was about being with friends and family, Martin said. "That's what gets me through. And it's not always sad. Sometimes all it takes is just a smile or a hug." Several people wore white T-shirts with a black drawing on the front: a man with spiky hair sitting behind a drum set. It's the drawing of Landon Atkin, one of Our 10. Christine MacDonald, 21, Woodinville, was one wearing one to remember her friend. MacDonald had the words "Live Life" tattooed on her wrist in honor of Atkin. "He was the type to always live his life to the fullest," she said. Everybody pushed tables together and sat around chatting and sharing food and beer. David Patterson, who skydives, came to remember Bryan Jones, who he said was a good guy and a good friend. "Skydiving for Bryan was about friends and himself and not just about jumping," Patterson said. Dave Correia, 55, of Bothell echoed that sentiment. He said he has been in the sport for more than 30 years. Correia said he knew all members of Our 10 and taught many of them how to skydive. He said it's about friendship as much as it is about jumping. "It doesn't matter who you are," Correia said. "Once you are on that field, you are the same as everybody else." Even though the 10 were missing, they brought everybody together Tuesday night one more time. Reporter Katya Yefimova: 425-339-3452 or kyefimova@heraldnet.com. READER COMMENTS Be the first to comment. You must be a registered user and verify your e-mail address to post comments to blogs or articles on HeraldNet. To register, click here. To read other terms and conditions, click here. Log out

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