NORWICH, Conn. (AP) – In a move that family members say is long overdue, Norwich has erected a memorial to six people who died when the Spaulding Pond dam burst in 1963.

Heavy rain caused the break, which sent millions of gallons of rushing water into downtown. Most of the damage was caused by ice chunks. The anniversary of the flood is today.

The flood destroyed a twine mill, killing five workers. Also killed was Margaret Moody, 23, who was attempting to escape with her family when rising water overtook their car.

She handed her three sons to her husband, Tom, and a neighbor, Tony Orsini, who pulled them into a tree. Her husband grabbed her hand, but the rushing water carried her away before he could pull her to safety.

“Margaret Honey’ Moody was one of the greatest heroes that night,” Orsini said. “All we needed were a few more seconds and things would have been a lot different. I know she’s looking down on her husband and three children and six grandchildren here today.”

Tom Moody said he owes his family’s survival to Orsini..

Moody’s son Shawn, now 43, said a dedication ceremony for the memorial on Saturday brought some closure. He was 10 months old the night of the flood and spent more than an hour tucked inside Orsini’s coat.

“It feels great to be here today to finally recognize all the heroes of that night,” he said.

After the ceremony, another Moody son, Tommy, now 47, planned to trace the route of the flood waters from the park where the memorial is located to downtown.

The Norwich public works department purchased the memorial at the behest of Dan Kelly, a friend of the Moody family. It’s located in Mohegan Park, next to the pond.

Patricia Macomber, daughter of Helen Roode, one of the workers killed in the mill, said organizers did a nice job with the monument and the ceremony.

“It’s still so emotional,” Macomber said. “She never saw her grandchildren.”

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Information from: Norwich Bulletin, www.norwichbulletin.com, and The Day, http://www.theday.com

AP-ES-03-05-06 1128EST