Blue Angels crash: Smyrna memorial to honor fallen pilot

The town of Smyrna unveiled plans Thursday for a memorial dedicated to the Blue Angels pilot whose plane crashed June 2, 2016, during a practice run for the Great Tennessee Air Show.

"The Capt. Jeff Kuss USMC Memorial will celebrate the life and career of an American hero,” said Smyrna Mayor Mary Esther Reed, who teared up as she recalled the day his plane went down. "It's been the culmination of months of hard work."

Early on, Reed said she realized the community "all wanted to be together to grieve the loss" of the pilot.

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In the weeks following the crash, a committee was created to formulate ideas for the best way to honor Kuss, said Smyrna Town Manager Harry Gill.

"The Angels have played such an integral part of Smyrna for over 40 years. After the tragic death of Capt. Kuss, the town rallied ... to do something in honor of Capt. Kuss," Gill said.

The project will cost approximately $1 million, Gill said. So far, Reed said corporate and individual sponsors have raised about half of the total funds needed.

"I know with the help of the individuals in this community, this state and this nation, we can make the dream you see here a reality," Reed said.

Groundbreaking is scheduled for the fall and the project is expected to be completed and opened by spring 2018, Reed said.

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But plans are already underway for the first phase of the project. Next week a Blue Angel F/A-18C Hornet — similar to the jet flown by Capt. Kuss and on loan from the National Naval Aviation Museum in Pensacola, Fla. — will be shipped by truck from Pensacola and will arrive in Smyrna the afternoon of May 25.

The Town of Smyrna is finalizing the time and truck route of the aircraft and as soon as it if official, it will make it available to the public. Reed expects a warm welcome from the community.

Once the jet arrives, it will be reassembled and will remain at the Smyrna Airport until ready to be installed in the permanent memorial, which will be located on Sam Ridley Parkway East along the greenway in Lee Victory Recreation Park.

"We're also going to include bricks that people can have their charitable donation and name inscribed on that. ... It covers probably a little over an acre and should be truly magnificent," Gill said.

Christina Kuss, said the memorial is a "wonderful tribute" to her late husband's life.

“Jeff was my inspiration and the outpouring of support from the people of Tennessee has been profoundly humbling. You all have wrapped our family in so much love. We are inspired and we are grateful," Christina Kuss said. "I am hopeful it will inspire and encourage the children who see it to pursue their dreams as Jeff did."

The memorial will be more than something just to look at, but something to draw the community into the life story of Kuss.

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In hopes of drawing upon the lessons and heroic example of Kuss, Browns Chapel Elementary Principal Kellye Goostree is assembling a curriculum that teachers will be able to utilize prior to taking a field trip to the memorial site.The Marine Corps values of excellence, honor, courage and commitment will be tied in with the program as well as the memorial. 

"We are also looking at having a permanent interactive exhibit at the (nearby) Smyrna Outdoor Adventure Center that complements the memorial," Reed said.

Kuss' plane crashed in the back yard of the Sam Davis Home. The board of directors and trustees for the historic site are planning on erecting their own memorial to Kuss. Joi Sherrill, president of the trustees, said there are plans to set up a memorial bench close to the crash site. Plans are to make it a place to reflect.

"We want the family of Capt. Kuss to have a permanent tribute to his life that they can be proud of for many years to come," Reed said.

Reach reporter Nancy De Gennaro at 615-278-5148 or degennaro@dnj.com and follow her on Twitter @DNJMama.

About the Captain Jeff Kuss USMC Memorial Fund

Established in 2017, the Capt. Jeff Kuss USMC Memorial Fund through the Rotary Club of Smyrna, Inc. is a 501c3 nonprofit dedicated to commemorating the life of Jeff Kuss.

Ways to Contribute

Online at CaptJeffKussUSMCMemorial.com

MobileCause: Text Jeff to 71777

In person at the Smyrna Town Hall, 315 S. Lowry St., or any Franklin Synergy Bank

About Capt. Jeff Kuss

Kuss, a native of Durango, Colo., Kuss dreamed of being a pilot and obtained his pilot’s license before his driver’s license.

Prior to joining the U.S. Navy Blue Angels Flight Demonstration Squadron in 2014, Kuss was a decorated pilot who served in Afghanistan. While serving in Afghanistan, Kuss earned the Strike Flight Air Medal and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal.

On June 2, 2016, at the age of 32, Kuss tragically lost his life when his jet crashed a day
before The Great Tennessee Air Show in Smyrna. Kuss is survived by his wife, Christina, children Calvin and Sloane, parents Janet and Michael, and brother Eric.