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August 26, 2016
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Emotions run high at dedication for memorial to lost fishermen
by JD Rule

 

     In Lubec, the day started out overcast and foggy, so much so that many participants at the Lost Fishermen's Memorial Association's (LFMA) public dedication ceremony on August 21 were overdressed. Shortly before the start, the clouds departed and the fog burned off, providing a perfect summer day. "We set out a hundred chairs," said LFMA President Shelly Tinker, "but we've got at least double that."
     It took seven years for the LFMA to get to this point. Prompted by the twin losses of fishing boats in 2009, the association struggled for several years but never gave up. The sculpture includes 102 names of fishermen, all lost since 1900 in Washington or Charlotte county waters, and at least one more must be added. Now that the monument dedication is complete, the LFMA mission will shift, according to Tinker, towards working to ensure the blank spaces remain blank.
     Funding for the memorial was provided in large part, said Tinker, by many small contributions from community members who wanted to demonstrate their support. A few large contributions were made by local companies, and materials and labor for site landscaping was donated by several local firms.
     Bill Case, LFMA's vice president, opened the event by pointing out that the memorial was "born of tragedy but delivered by perseverance." A very emotional Shelly Tinker, the wife of a fisherman, followed him to the microphone, saying, "I want the fishermen to see this monument twice a day, when they go out and again when they come back." Members of the Lubec Select Board were up next, with Chairman Carol Dennison thanking the association for creating the memorial, followed by member Joanne H. Case describing how her grandfather "used to build boats right over there."
      Case expressed her thanks for "a memorial for fishing in the village" before losing her composure. Representative Will Tuell presented a legislative sentiment honoring the LFMA, and musician Stephen Sanfilippo performed several historic fishing songs.
     Prior to the event opening, and several times during the event, Passamaquoddy tribal members performed traditional music, led participants in prayer and conducted a dedication ceremony. Tribal Vice Chief Vera Francis, whose brother's name is listed on the stone, led several songs and later spoke.
     Jesse Salisbury, LFMA's art director and the sculptor who crafted the memorial, described how he visited the site repeatedly before settling on the wave design. "This spot is one of the gems," he said, referring to the small lot adjacent to the boat ramp and pointing out how many visitors come just to look out across the bay. "We didn't want anything that would block the view" of the water or the sunset, he said. Salisbury drew a comparison with the Vietnam Veterans Memorial wall in Washington, saying, "It is important that we have a way to remember each of their names."
      "The stone is durable," Salisbury said, encouraging people to sit on them and for children to play upon them.
     The traditional reading of the names was performed by several members of the community, with Tinker ringing a bell as each name was announced. Particularly heartrending were the number of times four or five names in sequence bore the same last name. Local fisherman Julie Keene read part of the list, then addressed the crowd by saying, "I can't hear a helicopter without thinking of those days and those losses." At that point she broke down and left the stage in tears.
     Helping to spotlight the emotions released during the ceremony, high tide occurred halfway through, with water pouring over the top of the breakwater while a noisy group of seals fished in the current.
     Recently retired Father Gene Gaffey conducted the blessing of the fleet ceremony, with a number of boats passing in review, swinging out into the powerful current. The expected fleet from Grand Manan did not arrive, possibly from concerns over the fog that shrouded the area earlier. However, Mayor Dennis Green was present and spoke briefly.
     The last part of the ceremony was an open mic opportunity for individuals to address the community personally. Gail Etheridge‑Popham was the first speaker, speaking of the recent loss of her son Jonathan Popham of Machiasport, who was lost on July 16 while lobster fishing. Popham struggled to say she is "hoping that no other family will suffer the anguish of a loss like this." Of the dozen speakers, half fought back tears while sharing stories of personal loss, with one saying "cherish your lives and your loved ones. Tell them every day how much you love them."

 

 

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