It has been 36 years since 29 crew members fought a rogue storm only to perish on the SS Edmund Fitzgerald. The first memorial was held on Nov. 10, 1965 and now, on the 36th anniversary of the historical shipwreck folks once again remembered the crew of the Fitzgerald at Belanger Park in River Rouge.
Relatives of crew members, nautical experts and people who helped build the ship spoke at the ceremony and a wreath was tossed into the Detroit River while a bell rang 30 times once for every crew member and once for all sailors lost in the Great Lakes. The bells rang out at 7:10 the exact moment the ship sank.
The River Rouge Historical Museum also held an open house with articles from the wreck including Edmund Fitzgerald photos, videos and artifacts. The event was well attended
and many of those directly connected to the tragic event enjoyed seeing the event given its remembrance.
The Fitzgerald was the largest ship on the Great Lakes when it was launched in June 1958 and it is the largest ship to ever sink in the lakes. The 729-ft long freighter has been the subject of legend and song over the years since it sank. According to maritime history it sank approximately 17 miles northwest of Whitefish Point on its way to Zug Island. The theory is that the Fitzgerald went down in a surprise storm however many experts have questioned the actual cause of the shipwreck over the years. The actual cause may never be determined.
Currently the legendary wreck is noted every year on the anniversary of its sinking however on this, the 36th anniversary the event took on a special meaning. For more info on the Edmond Fitzgerald visit www.ssefo.com. ■
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