VOICE-OVER SCRIPT:

LAKE SUPERIOR IS CALM THIS DAY.

BUT IT WAS FAR FROM THAT ON A STORMY AUTUMN NIGHT IN 1975 WHEN OLIVER “BUCK” CHAMPEAU AND 28 OTHERS SAILED ABOARD THE EDMUND FITZGERALD.

SOUNDBITE (English) Debbie Gomez-Felder, Oliver “Buck” Champeau’s daughter:

“He was just honored to be on the Fitzgerald.”

THE NEXT DAY, CHAMPEAU’S DAUGHTER, DEBBIE, WAS PULLED OUT OF HIGH-SCHOOL HISTORY CLASS AND TOLD TO GO HOME.

SOUNDBITE (English) Debbie Gomez-Felder, Oliver “Buck” Champeau’s daughter:

“Opening the door, I’ll never forget my mom and grandma sitting on top of the phone. And my first response was: ‘Who died?’”

A HALF-CENTURY HAS PASSED SINCE THE FITZ -- ONCE THE LARGEST VESSEL ON THE GREAT LAKES – SANK WHILE CARRYING TACONITE FROM WISCONSIN TO DETROIT.

SOUNDBITE (English) Rev. Todd Meyer, Mariners’ Church of Detroit:

“The 50th anniversary is a big deal. We have a whole weekend of events.”

INCLUDING A TRADITION THAT ITSELF IS 50 YEARS OLD.

THE RECTOR OF MARINERS’ CHURCH WILL RING THE BELL 30 TIMES – ONCE FOR EACH SAILOR ABOARD. AND ONE FOR ALL THOSE LOST ON THE LAKES OVER THE YEARS.

BISHOP RICHARD INGALLS WAS THE FIRST TO OFFER THE “DEATH TOLL” BACK IN 1975.

SOUNDBITE (English) Bette Wisniowiecki, Richard Ingalls’ daughter:

“And just to think about these poor men. They were so close to making it. And they just didn’t.”

BUT THEY DID PROVIDE OTHERS IN THE SAILING COMMUNITY A GREAT GIFT – THE MOTIVATION TO INSTITUTE SIGNIFICANT SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS.

NOT A SINGLE MAJOR SHIP HAS GONE DOWN ON THE GREAT LAKES SINCE.

SOUNDBITE (English) Frederick Stonehouse, Great Lakes maritime historian:

“Every sailor on the Great Lakes that’s sailing today owes a great debt of gratitude to the Fitzgerald, because in this manner, she showed the way.”

FOR THE FAMILIES OF THE LOST, THE SHIP IS SO MUCH MORE THAN A SYMBOL OR A MYSTERY.

SOUNDBITE (English) Debbie Gomez-Felder, Oliver “Buck” Champeau’s daughter:

“The 29 men -- there’s a face behind those men. And behind those men, that’s me. That’s family members. That’s people that still are here. And we love them.”