"We had a desperate need to touch the soil where they died," said Donna Macdonell. "I don't think I could get on with breathing without having done that."

Macdonell is the mother of Bill Macdonell. In September 1995, Bill, Garth DeMarsh, Mike Meloche and Brad Rusnell died when their helicopters collided shortly after taking off from Thompson's point, 110 kilometres east of Yellowknife.

The men ranged in age from 24 to 31. Their futures were just beginning to unfold.

Their four families made a pilgrimage from Edmonton and Toronto to see, for the first time, the place where their sons and brothers' lives ended.

A steady rain was falling when the families arrived at Yellowknife airport Saturday morning. The rain lightened during a short plane ride to Plummer's Lodge, then stopped as they arrived, in helicopters, at the site.

"It was like the boys knew we were coming," said Shirley DeMarsh, fighting back tears. "I'm sure the boys knew."

An aviation board investigation concluded the helicopters had crashed at about 7 p.m. The four young men, all employees of Canadian Helicopters, were on their way back to Yellowknife, and home, having finished a mining project.

The crash report said the choppers touched each other shortly after reaching cruising altitude of between 500 and 600 metres. Their flight formation likely broke down because they were flying directly into the sun.

Clarence Rusnell checked on that theory as the families left the site Saturday, at about the same time his son had. "The sun was absolutely blinding," he said.

The helicopters hit the ground about 200 feet apart. Midway between the two there now lies a stone monument, laid Saturday by the families.

They spent six hours at the site. In spite of the violence of the incident and the time that has passed much evidence of the crash remained.

One family found their son's glasses and wrist watch. Another found a case containing 50 of their son's cassette tapes.

"I found the button to my son's camcorder," said Macdonell. "He had bought it with his birthday money. Without that we wouldn't have had one minute of video to remember him by."

Though many tears have been shed and will continue to be shed over the deaths, the families of the four have managed to find consolation in each other.

They have remained in touch since the incident, even vacationed together.

"The four boys focused on their work, they were very good at their jobs," noted Rusnell. "But they never brought their work home, so the families never knew much about their work comrades and their families until this."

"I'm sure it's a bond we will always keep," said DeMarsh.

Eighteen months in the planning, the experience was made possible only through the goodwill of all involved, said Rusnell.

"It was only through the efforts of the four families, the company and the efforts of local people -- all volunteered -- that we were able to realize the special day we've had today."