In Memory of the SS Edmund Fitzgerald 34 Years Ago This November 10, 2009

In Memory of the SS Edmund Fitzgerald 34 Years Ago This November 10, 2009

At 7:10 pm (est) today it was exactly 34 years ago that all communications were lost with the SS Edmund Fitzgerald, that disappeared without any distress signal.  It is believed that a rogue wave smashed into the Fitzgerald and took her down within minutes. 

The SS Edmund Fitzgerald was launched on June 7, 1958 and with a capacity of 24,100 tons, being 729 feet long it was the largest ship on the Great Lakes and continued to be for the next 13 years.

On November 10, 1975 the Fitzgerald set out to Zug Island near Detroit.  As it crossed Lake Superior it encountered a fierce storm with high waves.  The Coast Guard had warned all vessels to keep away from the area due to an approaching storm. 

The SS Edmund Fitzgerald sunk and the entire crew of 29 perished.

The Canadian song writer Gordon Lightfoot put the tradgey of the Fitzgerald to song.  In memory of the crew, take a few minutes and watch Lightfoot perform his award winning rendition of the sinking of the SS Edmund Fitzgerald.