WASHINGTON, D.C. — Rep. Greg Murphy, R-N.C., introduced a bill Thursday to honor six Carteret County residents who were among the eight who died in a plane crash last year.
The crash Feb. 13, 2022, took the lives of four adults and four East Carteret High School students, including Down East natives Noah Styron, 15; Hunter Parks, 45; Jonathan “Kole” McInnis, 15; Stephanie Fulcher, 42; Jacob “Jake” Taylor, 16; and Michael “Daily” Shepherd, 15. Pilot Ernest “Teen” Rawls and his son Jeffrey Rawls also died in the crash near Drum Inlet.
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Families and friends of the victims had posted signs of remembrance on the waterways near Atlantic in Carteret County in August, the Carteret County News-Times reported at the time. Murphy’s Down East Remembrance Act sets the exact coordinates of six creeks on federal land and renames them after the six Down East victims.
Related: Down East shares grief, strength after tragedy
“Last year, Eastern North Carolina was struck by a horrible tragedy. One year later, we look to immortalize the six Down East victims so that they will never be forgotten,” Murphy said in a statement. “While I cannot imagine the immense pain their families are still feeling, it is my hope that this bill will bring some consolation and closure. I am grateful for my colleagues in the North Carolina delegation for joining me in this effort.”
Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., joined by Sen. Ted Budd, R-N.C., are to introduce in the Senate a companion bill.
“Eastern Carolina continues to grieve the victims lost in the tragic plane crash last year,” said Tillis in a statement. “I am proud to introduce legislation to name creeks in honor of the North Carolinians who lost their lives on that fateful day. I thank Congressman Murphy for his leadership in this effort and hope my colleagues will take swift action to take up and pass this legislation.”
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