Edmund Fitzgerald crew member tribute

This is my video of remembrance for the 29 men who died on the Edmund Fitzgerald. I could not find some photos of the crew. I do not own the song or photos. Song by Gordon Lightfoot

[katelynwaataja]

blaine wilhelm was one of my great uncles. the 45th anniversary is coming up on the 10th. every gathering no matter which holiday or get together we play this song in memory of him since he’s not able to be with us. it’s a beautiful song with a great story

[Peter-uuqg]

I already found this song emotional, but with those faces... call me a wimp, but it was a challenge not to cry.

[herbiesnerd]

Young pups and salty sea dogs. Men born and died hard. Seeing their faces is sobering.

[davekenney]

"Does anyone know where the love of God goes...." brings a tear every time I hear Gordon sing this song.

[Kelly-just-kelly]

truely heartbreaking, jesus some of them were just babies, god bless them all

[scottross]

May all the crew R.I.P. God Bless all of you brave souls.

[pattyh]

Thank you for this video. I have watched many videos about the Edmund Fitzgerald and I think about those men who lost their lives. We could never imagine what their thoughts were that night. Many hugs go out to the the families. God Bless the 29

[georgeadams]

Thank you so much for this. You dont hear alot about the crew, seeing this makes it all that more real. I cant imagine how terrifying it must have been, no radar, water coming in, you have a list and all during the storm of the century. God bless those men and their families.

[armandogonzales]

So sad some of those guys were just young men beginnings of their careers

[danryan]

Thank you for this . I cannot believe it has been so many years since this tragic night happened. I was a kid of 18 working the night watch on the imperial Sarnia oil tanker coming out of Lake Huron about to enter the saint clair river at Sarnia Ontario when the news came over the radio in the wheelhouse, the lake that night was rough we were empty and on ballast bobbing like a cork. I will never forget the words of captain Nate Smith when I asked him later if we would have sank... He said we would have gone down. I am now 64 and live on the shore of Lake Huron I walk my dog along it every day and marvel at these inland oceans, God bless all these brave men, and Mr. Lightfoot for bringing there story to the world.

[Its_only_a_model]

I used to play this song over and over as a kid on my dad's old 8 track. Such a good memorial to the victims of this tragedy.

[Modeltnick]

Very nicely done tribute to these departed souls. So sad that the lost their lives at sea this way. Obviously some of the men were close to retirement while the younger ones, full of life and enthusiasm, were just starting out. Thanks for posting this!

[thomascresswell]

Even the edmund fitzgerald and its crew may not be here today but we will always remember them ❤

[susanneg]

So sad, chills me even more to see their faces.

[Steph-hsjd]

I can’t even begin to imagine what these brave men went through in their final hours. RIP

[mitcht]

I was a senior at the University of Minnesota Duluth living on Superior street not far from the Great Lake. We were watching TV when a news bulletin came in of a ship in distress - the Edmund Fitzgerald. I liked Gordon Lightfoot before this song, but this ballad is such a great tribute to real, authentic, hard working crew on the ship - this video puts faces and real lives to those who were lost - it brought tears to my eyes - a few would have been around my age today. Some were in their 50's & 60's then, giving their lives to life on the GREAT LAKES. Thank you for this - it takes me a back to Duluth, Nov. 1975.

[retrievergolden]

Thank you for posting this, and thanks also to Mr. Lightfoot for making sure these men are not forgotten. They were just ordinary men trying to feed their families, but that makes them heroes.

[serdip]

(Inspired by "The Wreck Of The Edmund Fitzgerald" by Gordon Lightfoot)

'Neath the wind and waves
Are many mariners' graves
Where lost souls forever are buried

On board that great ship
Till the sea loosed each man's grip
Not one of them even seemed worried

But November's tempest
That great vessel did test
None of its crew were survivors

By waves men were tossed
And all hands on deck lost
Their graves found by deep sea divers

Not many prevail
'gainst a furious gale
That keeps all the sailors a fearing

Save for a sturdy cape
There could be no escape
From sailors and ships disappearing

She listed to port
And then she came up short
As the lake sought right then to claim her

The crew fought all night
To set the ship right
From the unwelcome waters to drain her

But no matter how they fought
Their efforts were for naught
As there could be only one winner

The bow soon was full
Drawn down by gravity's pull
That spared neither saint nor sinner

It was already too late
When The Anderson's first mate
Phoned the captain of the vessel now sinking

"We're holding our own"
But his fate was unknown
As his ship the sea water was drinking

Brave men met their doom
With their great ship now entombed
On the cruel lake's rocky bottom

Sailors nine and one score
Suddenly were no more
For the witch of November had got 'em

I'm not sure if they prayed
Or what price they would have paid
To see another day dawning

But for them the bell did toll
As they sank in the shoal
While the angry sea was still yawning

It's been forty-six years
And an ocean of tears
Since that stormy night in November

To those brave men who are gone
We sing this mournful song
But in our hearts we shall always remember

© 2017 - 2021

[Picosacreek]

Sad loss of life these 29 men of the Fitz, I feel even more saddened by those who have no photo. Thankfully Gordon Lightfoot wrote such a powerful and meaningful song as a tribute to the crew and for the ship itself. May they eternally rest in peace.

[steveoatway]

What a touching and thoughtful tribute. I knew a family that lived on the banks of the Niagara River north of Queenston Heights. The father who was an architect had a brother who died on the Edmund Fitzgerald. I mention this because I've forgot their name and would love to find it. They invited me to a lovely Christmas dinner in 1989 where at some point in the conversation I mentioned something about the ship and song. The table suddenly became silent so my girlfriend told me her uncle was one of those who perished. I can't remember a worse faux pas but they were very kind and the conversation changed to other subjects then I stayed on for a few wonderful days.