Though lawsuits are still pending and safety improvements continue, city officials and the families of the victims of Metro’s deadly Red Line crash three years ago today gathered this morning for the unveiling of a memorial plaque.

Perched on the New Hampshire Avenue bridge that spans the tracks near where the 2009 crash occurred, the plaque replaces a makeshift memorial in recognizing the nine that were killed that day—train operator Jeanice McMillan, Mary “Mandy” Doolittle, Veronica “Ronnie” Dubose, Ana Fernandez, Dennis R. Hawkins, Lavonda “Nikki” King, Ann Wherley, Maj. Gen. David F. Wherley, and Cameron Taihi Williams. The copper plaque also includes a quote from Pericles: “What we leave behind is not what is engraved in stone monuments, but what is woven into the lives of others.”

Image courtesy FOX 5

In remarks during a ceremony to unveil the plaque, various officials spoke of how the accident served as a tragic impetus for improvements in the transit agency. “As tragic as the accident was, it has given rise to a number of safety changes,” said Mayor Vince Gray.

Deborah P. Hersman, the chairwoman of the National Transportation Safety Board, similarly spoke of ongoing improvements at Metro; in the wake of the accident, Metro was given 19 specific recommendations for safety improvements, three of which have since been fully completed and the other remain in progress. Hersman said that Metro, under new leadership since the crash, has become more responsive to safety concerns.

Tawanda Brown and Carolyn Jenkins, both of whom lost their daughters in the crash, said the memorial was but a small step towards bringing closure to the families. “We are here today to give the families hope and the opportunity to reflect on their loves ones,” said Brown.

The plaque is part of ongoing memorials to the victims. Last year a similar plaque listing their names was unveiled at the Fort Totten Metro station, and city officials have announced plans for a $1 million memorial park and garden nearby. Though some residents have objected to the site that was chosen, Gray said that the D.C. Commission on Arts and Humanities would soon award the contract for its design and construction as discussion with the community continues.