Today marks the day that the Fitzgerald departed Superior Wisconsin on it ill fated voyage way back in 1975.
Thanks for the post, I was in my last few months in the service stationed at MCAS Iwakuni Japan when that happened, Edmund Fitzgerald Wreck Lake Superior | AccuWeather
On the day of the Fitzgerald disastor, my brother and me were returning home from our property on Thunder Lake which is about 20 miles NW of Manistique. We heard a local radio broadcast that contact from the ship had been lost. At that time we were nearing the Big Mac. We were close friends with a couple that ran a small tavern on Thunder Lake (Petersons Bar). They had a son that worked on great lake freighters. Our thoughts immediatly went to them as those were a close knit bunch. They knew eachother and most of all they were aware of the dangerous November weather that could spell peril on Lake Superior. Every time I hear that song from Gordon Lightfoot I get a shiver up my spine. Perfect discription. while listening to the lyrics, one can picture the last hours of their voyange. Ice cold blackness and certain doom. May their souls rest in peace.
Mike, I will never forget this. Just played the son again for the hundereth time. The service in Detroit is always emotional.
Spent 15 yrs working on the Great Lakes freighters. Always a subdued day on the ships even though most people I sailed with weren't even born then. I was alive then but only 8yrs old so don't remember it actually happening.
Many radio stations really over-played that at the time. Like Clapton's Layla - great song but played one too many times.
