The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald music video

Telling the story of this famous shipwrewck to the Gordon Lightfoot song.

[scottbuck]

Ring the bell 30 times.
29 for the crew
1 for Gordon
Rest easy men. Your legends live on.

[randywolfe]

I read that when Mr. Lightfoot passed away that they rang the bell again. Instead of 29 times but 30 times Adding that extra ring for Gordon Lightfoot. Mr. Lightfoot gave all his royalies of this song to the families of those who perished on the Edmund Fittzgerald.

[darleneridgway]

I have listened to this song since I was a child. I'm 58 yrs old now. It still brings chills to my soul.

[bcgrittner]

Years ago my older brother and company were having dinner at a Duluth restaurant. They noticed a gentleman sitting by himself. They asked him if they could join him. He readily agreed. The man was Gordon Lightfoot. He was an absolute gentleman and a fascinating conversationalist. My brother called that evening well spent and an extraordinary opportunity. RIP, Gordon Lightfoot.

[godblessamerica]

Rest in Peace, Gordon Lightfoot! Your legend will live on in Minnesota and beyond!

[MichaelKrahulec-fo]

Still listening in October 30, 2024, Chicago, Illinois. I still cry every time I hear this song. I salute the Captain and crew. R. I. P.

[darleneridgway]

Thank you Gordon Lightfoot for such a memorable song of these lost souls. Rest In Peace Gordon 05-01-2023✝️

[HATEgoo-gle]

Probably the best song no other musician will ever cover.

[keithwebb]

This song brings tears to my eyes everything I hear it. Very powerful

[w]

Still listening in 2024.
I have not forgotten.
Cleveland Ohio.

[timothysullivan]

RIP Gordon Lightfoot, one of the GREATEST songs EVER WRITTEN☝️☝️🙏🙏🙏💔💔😢😢🙏

[jasonduke]

Ive been obsessed with the Fitzgerald pretty much my entire life. This ballad I can listen to it continually all day and I have. I live in Michigan and when I take to the upper peninsula from down in the lower I listen to it all the way. This song, this Ballad is very emotionally powerful to me. As a younger man it was all about the ship and the ' how it happened ' as a older man im very troubled knowing how awful those men died. I was in the Great Lakes Maritime academy same place where cadet David Wise went. I hope I spelled his name correctly. I met one of the instructors who taught David. He knew very well how bad it can be out there. I dont where was worse to die in the bow or stern. This stuff really messes with me. I have a lot of experience on the great lakes not on a freighter, mostly in small craft. I was in a youth volunteer program called U.S. Navel sea cadets. Our division was the great lakes and the navy donated a yard patrol ship, named Pride of Michigan. Look it up its here on YouTube.
This was back in 1990. I served on her for 3 years. In '91 we were working with scientists studying zebra mussels back when they were not as known as they are now.
Anyway we were in lake Michigan not far from the summer island and we were heading back to escanba. This huge storm hit us, I was in the pilot house so I heard all the raido traffic. We were in a gale. I sailed on this ship on the Atlantic through big rolling waves I thought that was bad. This was armageddon compaired to the Atlantic. We were fighting 20 foot waves, crashing across the bow which looked like we were going under! There are gauges that mesure the pitch and roll of the ship, we rolled a few times 42 degrees!! I was stationed at the lee helm, there is a iron bar bolted to the ceiling we called it the Jesus Christ bar. I was hanging on to that with both hands and my feet were comming off the deck! The sky was completely overcast dark and it was around 3pm. Lighting striking the water, the waves looked demonic, demons running into the ship from all sides. The verse " does anyone know where the love of God goes when the waves turn the Minutes to hours?" That is SO TRUE!!! we were only making 8 to 9 knots. I really believed this was it. The Captain, capitan Clyburn was at the helm he could hardly hang on because we were being tossed around like a cheap toy. I heard an adult in the crews quarters screaming in fear and it was a man. Remember the crew was mostly cadets. So that day of horror I can be sure pales to what the crew of the Fitzgerald went through. I get a bit emotional about that. God bless those men and for all stuck in a storm on the great lakes.

[Vincele]

Company 301 San Diego Navy Bootcamp. My 9th days end before taps when MMC Legg; our Company Commander explained what happened. He asked for silence & Prayers for the lost and families. Quietest lights out in my 27 year Navy career, and still vivid in my mind. God lift up all Edmund Fitzgerald familes and crew.

[P_foamer]

R.I.P Gordon Lightfoot 1938-2023 I will always remember your legendary song. 🙌

[normpaddle]

RIP crew
Ernest McSorley — Captain born in 1912 in Canada and lived in Toledo, Ohio. He started command of the Fitzgerald in 1972 with more than 40 years of experience navigating oceans and the Great Lakes. McSorley was highly regarded for his skills, especially in heavy weather. He intended to retire after the 1975 shipping season but was survived by wife Nellie Pollock.
John McCarthy — First mate born in 1913 and lived in Bay Village, Ohio.
James Pratt — Second mate born in 1931 and lived in Lakewood, Ohio.
Michael Armagost — Third mate born in 1938 and lived in Iron River, Wisconsin.
David Weiss — Cadet born in 1953 and lived in Agoura, California.
Ransom Cundy — Watchman born in 1922 on Easter Sunday in Houghton, Michigan, and lived in Superior, Wisconsin. He was in the Marine Corp and fought in the Battle of Iwo Jima during WWII. Fortunate to survive, Cundy was awarded several commendations and medals for his service. He was sailing with his friend Frederick J. Beetcher at the time of the sinking. Cundy was survived by his daughter Cheryl, her husband, and their seven children as well as three grandchildren from his youngest daughter Janice who passed away in 1974.
Karl Peckol — Watchman born in 1955 and lived in Ashtabula, Ohio.
William Spengler — Watchman born in 1916 and lived in Toledo, Ohio.
John Simmons — Senior wheelman born in 1913 in Ashland, Wisconsin, where he also lived. He was known as a storyteller, jokester, and pool shark, and he loved sailing. Friends with Captain McSorley for more than 30 years, the ill-fated Fitzgerald trip was going to be his last before retirement. Simmons was survived by wife Florence (who never dated or remarried after his death) and two daughters Mary and Patricia.

Eugene O’Brien — Wheelman born in 1925 in Minnesota and lived in Toledo, Ohio. Nicknamed the “Great Lakes Gambler, ” he worked on ships from age 16 and only took a four-year hiatus as a glass factory worker. He loved casinos and playing cards. O’Brien was survived by wife Nancy and son John, who was just 17 when he lost his father.
John Poviach — Wheelman born in 1916 and lived in Bradenton, Florida.
Paul Riippa — Deckhand born in 1953 and lived in Ashtabula, Ohio.
Mark Thomas — Deckhand born in 1954 and lived in Richmond Heights, Ohio.
Bruce Hudson — Deckhand born in 1953 and lived in North Olmsted, Ohio.
George Holl — Chief engineer born in 1915 and lived in Cabot, Pennsylvania.
Edward Bindon — First assistant engineer born in 1928 and lived in Fairport Harbor, Ohio.
Thomas Edwards — Second assistant engineer born in 1925 and lived in Oregon, Ohio.
Russell Haskell — Second assistant engineer born in 1935 and lived in Millbury, Ohio.
Oliver Champeau — Third assistant engineer born in 1934 and lived in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin. Nicknamed “Buck, ” he quit school at age 13 to raise four siblings after his father died. During his life, Champeau fought in the Korean War with the Marine Corps.
Ralph Walton — Oiler born in 1917 and lived in Fremont, Ohio. He and his brother Wade sailed on many Columbia Transportation ships, including the Fitzgerald, but only he was on board when it sank. He often volunteered to maintain the ships during winter and gave his nephews tours of the vessels. Walton was survived by a wife and son Alan who worked on freighters too.
Blaine Wilhelm — Oiler born in 1923 in Big Bay, Michigan, and lived in Moquah, Wisconsin. He was in the Navy for 11 years, serving in WWII and the Korean War before being discharged as a first class fireman. Afterward, Wilhelm sailed for 19 years. He liked to go fishing and deer hunting and enjoyed playing pool, barbecuing, spending time with family and friends, and eating blueberry pie. Wilhelm was survived by wife Lorraine, seven children, and a grandchild born just four days after the Fitzgerald sank.

Thomas Bentsen — Oiler born in 1952 and lived in St. Joseph, Michigan.
Gordon MacLellan — Wiper born in 1945 and lived in Clearwater, Florida. Less than one month before the tragic Fitzgerald journey, he built a home in Presque Isle, Michigan, to make travel between the two states easier. MacLellan took after his father, Master Captain Donald MacLellan who traveled the Great Lakes route several times.
Robert Rafferty — Steward and cook born in 1913 in Toledo, Ohio, where he also lived. After 30 years of sailing, he started just filling in for crew members. Rafferty wasn’t supposed to be on the fateful journey but was called to fill in for the regular steward. He was actually considering retiring altogether. Rafferty was survived by wife Brooksie, daughter Pam, and several grandchildren.
Allen Kalmon — Second cook born in 1932 and lived in Washburn, Wisconsin.
Joseph Mazes — Special maintenance man born in 1916 in Ashland, Wisconsin, where he also lived. He sailed for 30 years on the Great Lakes and loved his job. At one point, he saved another crewman’s life. Sadly, the 1975 season would have been his last because he planned to retire. Mazes loved ice fishing, deer hunting, and snowmobiling in his free time. His siblings, nieces, and nephews remember how kind and generous he was. They recall him being afraid of Captain McSorley’s habit of never pulling out of a storm.
Thomas Borgeson — Maintenance man born in 1934 and lived in Duluth, Minnesota.
Frederick Beetcher — Porter born in 1919 and lived in Superior, Wisconsin.
Nolan Church — Porter born in 1920 and lived in Silver Bay, Minnesota. He didn’t start sailing until his 40s after watching the freighters pass by his home and thinking that the job would be fun. He was survived by multiple children who say that he loved the job. Son Rick recalls his father joking that the Great Lakes didn’t have a hole big enough for the Fitzgerald. Church didn’t think that such a tragedy could happen.

[jimgomez]

Just heard Gordon passed away yesterday! He touched so many lives an souls with his music!

[Johnnie-iw]

I remember that day as if yesterday, My mother and I cried all day and night. Mom knew a large number of the crew. This was a very bad time for all the mariners who rode the lakes. R.I.P. May God keep you in his arms.

[warrenflynn]

Still brings a tear to your eye, all these years later. Godspeed to the families and the lost crew

[chrisalexander]

I have spent 38 years on the oceans. Been through some of the worst storms. I have a pice of steel railing that I kept for a reminder. The safety railing I was holding onto snapped like a twig (solid steel). Stories about this of the Mariner’s who lost their lives gives me a blessing to them and that I have been blessed with and survived it. Christopher Wayne Alexander AB.

[timgaw]

I was a kid when this song came out. Listend to it on wls am radio chicago. Later in 1980s I was on a 600 ft ship in south pacific.i was in the navy during persian gulfwar. My ship uss proteus as19. From Guam.we hit a typhoon breaking our keel. We pumped water for 500 Mile's we didn't sink. But having a 90ft wave hit the ship is something I will never forget. Nobody died but we sat 4 months having the ship welded back together.
Was hell of a ride. Gordon Lightfoot an Edmund Fitzgerald song always a gem to listen to.