Silent Heroes of the Cold War

The Travel Channel’s Mystery at the Museum featured a story about the plane crash just outside Las Vegas on Mt. Charleston in 1955, which became the basis for Silent Heroes of the Cold War, and the private obsession of Steve Ririe. Tune in to the archived video Crash at Area 51 to learn more about the men whose secret mission was denied and whose lives were lost.

“Silent Heroes of the Cold War Memorial will be a place where we can take our children and tell them the stories of the heroes who worked in secret here in Southern Nevada to see us safely through.”

Steve Ririe’s vision of a national memorial on Mount Charleston dedicated to the fourteen silent heroes of the Cold War is about to become a reality. As chairman of the local nonprofit organization, Ririe has been committed to memorializing those who perished on the mountain on Nov. 17, 1955 since he first discovered some of the plane’s wreckage in 1998.

Recently, Ririe shared his struggles – and triumph – for the memorial in a Las Vegas Review-Journal interview with Keith Rogers. Read the full article here:

Recently, the US Forest Service met with committee members of the Silent Heroes National Memorial at the Middle Kyle Canyon Project site and selected a probable site to honor those whose lives were lost on a Nevada mountaintop as part of a Cold War mission.

The 1955 “top secret” plane crash will also be featured on the Travel Channel’s fall lineup.  The episode centers around an artifact from the plane crash that was donated to the Atomic Testing Museum.

Stay tuned!

As we gather with friends this Memorial Day, it seems especially appropriate to share this beautiful  mini-documentary on the “silent heroes” of the Cold War recently posted on YouTube. Efforts are under way for a memorial  at Mount Charleston for us all to enjoy and pay homage to these silent heroes.

When: December 12, 2008 ~ 7:15 AM
Where: Bus departs from the Atomic Testing Museum
This will be a once in a life time experience. See cold war history and rub shoulders with special guests that offer unique insights to all you’ll see and experience at the Nevada Test Site. Special guests include:

Troy Wade – President of the Nevada Test Site Historical Foundation and former Defense Programs Chief for the Dept. of Energy.

T.D. Barnes – President, Roadrunners Internationale and former Special Projects Team, Area 51

Ky Plaskon – Author of Silent Heroes of the Cold War Declassified

Steve Ririe – Chairman Silent Heroes of the Cold War Memorial Committee

The event requires a donation minimum of $200 (book, t-shirt, and lunch provided). 100% of the donation goes toward the construction of the Silent Heroes of the Cold War Memorial.
All applications & donations must be submitted prior to 12/1/08. Information can be emailed to coldwarmonument@aol.com. There are U.S. Government restrictions for this event. For further information contact Lane Swainston at 433-6328.