CLARENCE CENTER, N.Y. — On this day 16 years ago, Colgan Air Flight 3407 crashed into a home in Clarence Center outside of Buffalo, killing 49 people on board and one person on the ground.

Families of the victims of the crash reunited at the site at 6038 Long Street and laid a wreath at a memorial with each person’s name engraved on it.

“We all know that our loved ones were just an amazing group of people that we, you know, you can be around a group of people that understand exactly what we're all going through,” said Ron Aughtmon, whose uncle John Fiore died in the crash. Since then, his family has founded the John Fiore Foundation, which has raised more than $700,000 for the community.

An investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board found the crash was caused by pilot error. Since then, the families have banded together to fight for safer air travel, which also makes for safety on the ground. Some of those changes include requiring co-pilots to complete 1,500 training hours and making sure schedules accommodate ample rest time for crew.

This ceremony happens just two weeks after the nation saw a passenger plane and Army helicopter crash mid-air, killing 67 people.

“All I could think of is not only the souls lost, but the families, knowing what they're going to go through. And next few weeks, months, years and, quite honestly, for the rest of their life. And, we just feel for them,” said Aughtmon.

Every five years, the families of the Flight 3407 victims fight to keep those air travel safety laws in place when the FAA Reauthorization Bill is due for renewal. It's a fight Aughtmon anticipates being lifelong.

“With the new administration coming into place, there's talk of less safety standards. So we are prepared to fight, as usual," he said. "We have committed ourselves to the fact that this is a lifelong fight that we’ll have to do. It's not just every five years. It's every day and every year. So, the wave of red clothing will not go away.”