An effort is underway to decorate the city of Durango with ribbons in honor of
Jack Llewellyn, executive director of the Durango Chamber of Commerce, has not set a time, but the community will be invited to pick up and display ribbons in blue and yellow, to represent both the Blue Angels and Fort Lewis College, where Kuss received his diploma. College officials also are involved with the effort.
"We want people to show support for Marine Capt. Jeff Kuss and his family in putting up blue and yellow ribbons in their homes, place of business or any place to show support for this tragic loss," Llewellyn said.
Also, a gofundme page has been set up to raise money for Kuss' family.
Kuss, 32, who joined the Naval flight demonstration team in 2014, left behind his wife, Christina, and two young children.
The fundraiser was set up by Kuss' sister-in-law, Nicole Perino.
"Captain Kuss made the ultimate sacrifice and has left behind his precious wife Christina and two small children, Calvin, 4, and Sloane, 1," the page reads. "This family needs all of our support and Jeff is a true American hero who saved the lives of thousands in this terrible tragedy. Jeff was born and raised in Durango, Colorado and learned to fly before he could drive."
By Friday afternoon, donors had contributed nearly $31,000 toward the $250,000 goal.
To donate, visit www.gofundme.com/jeffkuss.
Kuss was a decorated Marine captain who received his flight training at Naval Air Stations in Pensacola and Corpus Christi. In February, he was among six pilots to fly over Levi's Stadium just before the 2016 Superbowl kickoff, which was a win for the Denver Broncos.
His F/A-18 Hornet went down at 3 p.m. Thursday as he took off for a practice flight in preparation for the Great Tennessee Air Show this weekend in Smyrna, Tennessee.
Kuss graduated from Fort Lewis College in 2006, and left a lasting impression.
"Every faculty member has some students that they think of as being one of theirs. He was one of mine," economics Professor Stephanie Owings-Edwards wrote in an email. "I can tell you exactly where Jeff sat in my Principles class. He was the only student in that class who seemed interested in what I was saying."
Owings-Edwards said Kuss did not immediately excel in economics, but he rose to the challenge and that quickly changed.
"I remember driving by Jeff on winter mornings, his face flushed, jogging along Goeglein Gulch. Absolutely no one else was out," she wrote. "But he knew that the physical training regime for the Marines would be demanding and he was going to be prepared. He was a case study in how far determination and dedication could take someone."
In Smyrna, hundreds of people attended a candlelit memorial service Thursday evening to honor Kuss, according to the Tennessean.
The Blue Angels were grounded after the crash and will not perform this weekend.
Check back at durangoherald.com for updates on this story.
