The Edmund Fitzgerald

"Today is the 35th anniversary of the sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald". I heard that on the nightly news and it brought back a lot of memories. I live no where near where it sank, but that was all that was on the news back then. I was 15 and remember hanging on every word. When the search was finally called off and there had been no survivors I thought of all the families and what they must be going through.

I found this site that was to commemorate the Edmund Fitgerald http://www.ssefo.com/and then I wondered if there was ever a stamp that was issued to commemorate the disaster? Anyone have any idea or know if there was?

Donna

I have the song on my IPod and I listen to it all the time. Being a career sailor, it makes me think about how they most likely knew it was coming and how they must have felt.

Here's one link with good info: http://www.ssefo.com/

I sing that song each year at this time at my shows!

This one of my favourite songs, even
all the way down here, in Aus.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lvKGz4s3kuU

Not 100% sure, but I think in the U.S. there is some prohibition on issuing stamps commemorating a "disaster" ... that's exactly why we don't have stamps promoting famous ship wrecks, train wrecks, plane crashes, hurricanes, earthquakes, etc., whether natural or man-made.

Even with sentiments running high on the 9/11 disaster, the USPS only issued a semi-postal and even then was very careful not to indicate anything on the stamp about the disaster itself, but rather entitled it "Heroes".

Besides, if the U.S. ever started issuing such stamps, IMO it would be a rather dismal subject matter to collect.

Yea,when the winds of November come calling !!

I sympathize with the Edmund Fitzgerald. It is always sad when a ship goes down. However, there are other ships that should be remembered as much.
commercial ships sink all the time.. and people make a big deal about it.. as a former Navy man, I remember more historically important sinkings.
The USS Indianapolis for one. the sinking of which led the greatest single loss of life at sea in the history of the U.S. Navy
Or the USS Liberty, which was callously attacked by the Israeli Air Force jet fighter aircraft and motor torpedo boats of the Israeli Navy. They attacked the American ship because it was a "spy" ship, this was during the 6 day war. However, even though it was identified as a neutral ship, the Israeli's still attacked it over several hours, they (Israeli Navy) screwed up and never admitted to it.. to me it is a shameful day for the Israeli navy.

and I do enjoy the sad song sung by Gordon Lightfoot.

I'm sure I have seen covers with the Fitz along with Great Lakes Lighthouse stamps (like Split Rock in Minnesota). If you haven't been there, Duluth at the head of Lake Superior is a must see town in my opinion. That is where the Fitz left from on its last trip. I have a print of the Fitz in my office on "the big lake they call Gitchee Gumee."

I have been to the Great Lakes only once. years ago I went to Navy bootcamp in Great Lake Illinois. On one liberty day, I found the shore line and dipped my foot in it..I remember at the time there was a big concern about pollution (1980). But I can say I have been there.

Not sure I agree with wt1 that stamps about disasters. I rather like the fact that stamps show in one way or another all aspects of our world - and disasters and evil are alas part of our environment. So I have one smallish collection called "disasters" which has, for instance, Greek stamps about earthquakes, Polish stamps about floods, and also stamps about man-made disasters - concentration camp memorials, Hitler Stalin and Mao stamps, stamps showing scenes from war, and stamps showing refugees . . . But that's just me, and I do have a very much larger collection of stamps about fun and love and happiness . . .

Duluth,is the San Francisco on the lake. I been there many times Superior is fantastic beautiful region. I've been as far north as Thunder Bay, ON on Isle Royale Nat Pk, down to Duluth then east through Wisconsin including the Apostle Islands & into the UP of Michigan. Rushing rivers, water falls, fishing & wildlife abound. Lighthouses, forts, mines & shipwrecks with history abound! Check it out some day!

Uh oh -- now we've done it warrehouse - we talk up Duluth and now everyone will go there. Maybe the lutefisk and curling will keep the crowds away?

OK, I cant resist - here is our dog at Scott 2969, Split Rock Lighthouse on Lake Superior north of Duluth. They light this light I think to commemorate the Fitzgerald once a year.

Cute dog with nice background scenery! It would be a good photo for one of those personalized postage stamps!

I was just thinking the same thing, but on a Canada stamp. darn. Can I just flip the picture one end for the other and pretend it's in Canada?


Of course without the cancel and hopefully centered better.

I love it! Sure, if you were driving south from Thunder Bay, Canada then the lighthouse would be on that side of the road!