In tribute to the 29 men who lost their lives in the 1975 sinking of the S.S. Edmund Fitzgerald in Lake Superior, 68 open-water swimmers have set out to complete the final 411 miles of the ship's intended journey to Detroit. Organized by marathon swimmer Jim “the Shark” Dreyer, the Edmund Fitzgerald Memorial Swim will begin on July 26, as reported by FOX 17, marking half a century since the tragedy. The month-long relay, which consists of 17 teams, each comprised of four swimmers, also carries a cargo symbolic of the freighter’s last shipment: iron ore pellets from Superior, Wisconsin.
Speaking to MLive, Dreyer highlighted the dual purpose of the swim, aiming not only to honor the memory of the drowned sailors but also to raise funds for the preservation of the Civil War-era Whitefish Point Lighthouse, which serves as a guide to ships both historical and current navigating Lake Superior. Raising over $187,000 to date, the event has caught the attention and participation of swimmers like Laura Hall and Brian VanderHoff, who, having raised almost $9,000, is the event's top fundraiser. Participants also include Tammy Lenarz-Carruth, who swims in memory of Paul M. Riippa, a 22-year-old crew member.
The swim is meticulously tracked, with daily updates posted on Facebook and near-real-time positions via a satellite tracker on the event's website. The journey will draw to a close with a service at the Mariners’ Church of Detroit, according to WTOL, where iron ore will be presented to Mayor Mike Duggan, and a bell ringing ceremony will honor each lost crew member, echoing the sentiments of Gordon Lightfoot’s famous ballad. Rev. Todd Meyer, pastor of the Mariners Church, emphasized the symbolic and spiritual significance, underscoring the church's connection to the historical event and the imperishable memories of those who sailed. Despite the potentially daunting expanse of water and the enormity of the undertaking, the event has been met with enthusiasm and determination, reflective of an indomitable spirit that aims to traverse time and tide, to ensure that those who left us on that fateful November day are not relegated to the annals of history without a fitting homage to their lives and stories.
.jpg){kind=link}