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One Hundred years earlier a US Ship on the Canadian Shore line was not a good thing, but in 1913, the crew of the US Coast Guard Light Vessel 82 (LV-82) was the only thing keeping sailors on Lake Erie and their own demise. In november of 1913 nature unleashed her fury a storm, known as the White Hurricain swept through the great lakes region causing a level of destruction on the lakes that had not been seen in recent memory, and yet the crew of LV-82 stayed. Their station, Point Abino was known for the shallow shoals, and dangerous waters. Standing at their station facing 80 miles per hour winds and thirty-five foot waves, the six men kept their post...until their ship couldn't take it and they went down under the cold waters on November 10th, 1913. Captain Hugh M. Williams, Chief Engineer Charles Butler, Assistant Engineer Cornelius Leahy, Mate Andrew Leahy, Seaman Willian Jensen, and Cook Peter MacKey. In addition to these men who gave their lives in service of another country were among 240 others who lost their lives during the storm, along with 19 other ships.
Members of the Canadian Coast Guard Auxilury Stand Station in rememberance.
The wreak of LV-82 was found on May 9th, 1914, but no bodies, only one was recovered in 1915. But it was the efforts of Paul Kassy Jr, Rick Doan U.E., and John Robbins of Crystal Beach, Ontario that brought the story of LV-82 to my attention (through my friend Mel in the CCGA) this past Saturday when at the Waterfront Park they unvieled a memorial, only the second memorial to the crews in the USCG Light Vessel service in the world. The ceremony was moving (my eyes still tear up writing this post) with members of the Canadian Coast Guard Auxilury, The three men who spearheaded the initive, local diginatries, the Navy League Cadet Corps, the Air Cadets, the US Coast Guard, Fire Department, even a member of the Light Vessel Sailors Association made the trek all the way up from Missouri.
Members of the local Air Cadet Squadron play the last post.
As the names of the men who died aboard LV-82 were read, the NLCC rang their bell, a cannon was fired, the boats on station sounded their horns and fired a flare, this was repeated six times, for the six men.
The Representive of the Light Vessel Sailors Association.
USCG arrives, after providing rescue to two boats already that morning
USCG Light Vessels continued to serve both Canadian and Americans on station at Point Abino until the end 1918 when the Canadian government constructed a lighthouse at the point. The lighthouse continued operations until 1995 and decalred a national historic site in 1998. The USCG ended the Light Vessel service in 1983. The story of LV-82 is not only posted at the Waterfront Park on a memorial, but it will also be posted inside the lighthouse.
The Memorial Plaque
Full photo coverage can be found on my Flickr.
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