Itta Bena, Miss. — Mississippi and U.S. Marine Corps officials dedicated a monument on Saturday to honor 15 Marines and a U.S. Navy corpsman who died in a plane crash on July 10, 2017.

The military transport plane, operated by a New York-based Marine Reserve unit, was en route from North Carolina to California for training when it tragically crashed. The ceremony took place at Mississippi Valley State University, with over 200 family members and friends of the 16 victims in attendance.

Following the dedication, approximately 30 participants began a 900-mile relay to the Marine Corps Special Operations Command at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. This event marks the first gathering at the crash site for many relatives, who are coming together to honor their loved ones and share their collective grief.

According to officials, the monument serves as a permanent tribute to the lives lost in the tragic incident.