By ISU Sports Information

NORMAL – The Illinois State Athletics Department revealed Redbird Remembrance in a private ceremony over the weekend to honor the seven men who were killed in plane near Bloomington in April.

The memorial is near the north entrance of Redbird Arena and is now open to the public. A plaque welcomes visitors into the memorial, while the seven names are etched into the back wall. At the center of the memorial are seven columns placed in a fountain one for each of the victims.

ISU also paid tribute to the victims before the football game on Saturday. The victim’s families were all on hand for the tribute which detailed the contributions each of them made to the community

Director of Athletics Larry Lyons said there was a duty to honor the men and support their families.

“We felt that we had a duty to honor these men, support their families and strengthen the Redbird bond,” Lyons said. “The permanency of the memorial is to honor their legacy with dignity and respect, and we believe the design is comforting and peaceful. We picked this location so that it is accessible to the families, the campus and the community to reflect and remember.”

Redbird football coach Brock Spack said before the game he hopes the memorial can provide some comfort to the victim’s families.

“It’s been a tough to deal with for all of us,” Spack said. “It’s going to be a healing moment for the entire community, not just our football team.”

Redbird student-athletes and coaches are wearing a patch on game days this season in memory of the seven men. Athletics staff members are wearing lapel pins that resemble the patch.