A powerful tribute: 411-mile swim to honor the Edmund Fitzgerald's legacy
As we approach the 50th anniversary of the Edmund Fitzgerald's tragic sinking, News 8 is diving deep into this story, bringing you a series of captivating articles leading up to November 10th. The culmination of this series will be a special WOOD TV+ documentary titled "The Fitz: 50 Years Later," airing at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. on that fateful day.
GRAND RAPIDS, Michigan - On July 26th, a group of dedicated swimmers embarked on a journey like no other. They ventured into the typically off-limits waters above the Edmund Fitzgerald's wreck, marking the start of an extraordinary memorial swim.
In a moving tribute to the 50th anniversary of the ship's sinking, the Edmund Fitzgerald Memorial Swim aimed to complete the ship's unfinished journey. Beginning above the wreck in Lake Superior and concluding in Detroit, a distance of 411 miles, this relay swim honored the 29 lives lost on the Edmund Fitzgerald and all mariners who have perished in the Great Lakes.
But here's where it gets controversial... Almost 70 swimmers participated in this symbolic swim, yet some argue that such an endeavor could be seen as a mere spectacle, detracting from the solemnity of the event. What do you think? Should memorial events like these be more about the act itself or the remembrance of those who have passed?
Before taking the plunge on that first day, the swimmers held a heartfelt ceremony at the wreck site, commemorating the 50th anniversary of the tragedy. Each of the 29 mariners' names was read aloud, followed by the dropping of a white rose and the ringing of the boat's bell. A gentle current carried the roses across Lake Superior's surface, creating a poignant trail of remembrance.
"It's something we'll never forget," said Jim Dreyer, the organizer of the Edmund Fitzgerald Memorial Swim. "The sight of those white roses floating away was incredibly moving."
Among the swimmers on that first morning was Tammy Lenarz Carruth, a seasoned swimmer from Minnesota. With over 20 open-water swims under her belt, she was drawn to the meaningfulness of this event. Specifically, she swam in honor of Paul Riippa, a 22-year-old deck hand who perished in the sinking. She had connected with his family, who blessed her participation in his memory.
"His sister said they love and miss him. It's surreal to think that while many of us have heard of the Edmund Fitzgerald, few know the names or stories of those who were lost. Learning about Paul meant a lot to me," she shared.
Lenarz Carruth's swim, completed with three other swimmers, started above the wreck and ended at the Whitefish Lighthouse. The swim raised over $200,000 to preserve the lighthouse, which had gone dark the night the ship sank.
The swim was challenging, with cold water and a southeasterly wind. They began at 4 a.m. and didn't reach the lighthouse until 7:30 p.m. The four swimmers, though taking turns for most of the journey, swam the final few hundred yards together, exhausted but determined.
After returning home, Lenarz Carruth continued to follow the swim's progress online. "It was an honor," she said.
As the swim progressed, the team faced numerous mechanical and weather-related obstacles, according to Dreyer. "My team, the staff, and the swimmers were relentless. The mission was bigger than us, and that's what kept us going."
They ended up using four different boats instead of the planned one. At one point near the Michigan Thumb, they encountered 10- to 15-foot waves as they headed back to port. Even though the swimmers were out of the water, the boat took a beating, Dreyer recalled.
"There were times when we had to swim in the morning, and the night before, at 10 p.m., we didn't have a boat. Me and the crew were working late into the night to figure things out. No one gave up."
Sheila Fitzgerald, who swam in the second-to-last leg through the Saint Clair River near Port Huron, shared a personal connection to the event. "The mariners were fundamental in building our world, and the 1975 tragedy represents generations of mariners who made similar sacrifices. My family was involved in the maritime trades on the Great Lakes, so this resonates deeply with me."
In fact, the ship's namesake, Edmund Fitzgerald, was a distant cousin of Sheila's. "His legacy represents the wider family involved in the maritime trades. My family, along with many others in the Great Lakes region, was bold and brave enough to use these waters for shipping. They were crucial to the region's development, and it's important to recognize their sacrifice."
Sheila's swim was also inspired by her mother, who grew up in Port Huron and loved swimming. Her leg of the swim started near the beach where her mother taught her to swim, passed by her Irish ancestor's farmstead, and took her close to her mother's childhood home.
Unlike other parts of the swim, Sheila's leg had ideal conditions. They swam with a swift current, under the warm sun. Freighters passed them by, honking their horns in salute.
"It was a magical day on the Saint Clair River," she recalled.
On August 27th, the swim reached Detroit, symbolically completing the Edmund Fitzgerald's journey and delivering iron ore, just as the ship had been carrying. Dreyer, who accompanied the swimmers in a support kayak, said the first person to greet him on shore was the daughter of one of the ship's crew.
"It really brought home why we were doing this - to memorialize the 29 men and keep their memory alive forever."
The following day, a ceremony was held at the Mariners' Church of Detroit to celebrate the swimmers and honor the 29 men. It was an emotional day, with "Amazing Grace" played on bagpipes and a Gordon Lightfoot tribute artist singing "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald." Finally, the church bells rang 30 times - once for each of the 29 men and once for all other mariners who have died on the Great Lakes.
"The tears were flowing. These men were husbands, fathers, and sons."
This extraordinary swim not only made history but also commemorated it, leaving a lasting legacy. What do you think about such memorial events? Do they effectively honor the past, or do they risk becoming mere spectacles? We'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments!
