“I’m As Free As a Bird Now…”

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The last time I was in this region of Mississippi, there was no memorial for the victims of the 1977 Lynyrd Skynyrd plane crash, which happened outside of Gillsburg. As you can see, there is one now! Mississippi has acknowledged much of its vast music heritage, as there are signs all over the place indicating where certain blues, country, or rock singers were born. (Yes, rock…Tommy Aldridge, who’s played for Whitesnake and Ozzy, is from Mississippi.) There are even monuments to the darkest days in music (such as the Rhythm Club historical marker and museum in Natchez, which I visited in 2021). Now there is one, and it is quite fitting for one of southern rock’s greatest bands. Maybe it’s so good because it was created by a private group, not by the government. There are four monuments on the site, which is near (but not on [that was private property, and still is, with plenty of “posted — no trespassing” signs]) the site. Two on either side tell the story of the crash, while the one in the middle tells the story of the rise of Lynyrd Skynyrd’s popularity. On the back of each monument you’ll find very well-done photo-paintings (you really can’t tell which they are, they’re that good) of the four Skynyrd deaths (three musicians and their tour manager). The survivors are also represented. In the back, closest to the fence marking off the private property from the monument property, is a marker depicting Ronnie Van Zant in his trademark pose of carrying his microphone, stand and all. On the reverse of that monument is a poem by Skynyrd’s security manager (and crash survivor) Gene Odom. I’m so sorry there has to be a memorial, but this one has been done very well. COLLAGE: (Top left) Part of the monument detailing the crash (Top center) The Ronnie Van Zant monument, with the private property in the background where the plane crashed (Top right) Continuation of the story about the crash (Bottom) Photo of the entire memorial from the parking lot