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Where were you on June 7, 1958?

Tomorrow is the 50th anniversary of the launch of the Edmund Fitzgerald at the Great Lakes Engineering Works of River Rouge, Michigan. Special commemorations are being held in Detroit.
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Tomorrow is the 50th anniversary of the launch of the Edmund Fitzgerald at the Great Lakes Engineering Works of River Rouge, Michigan.

Special commemorations are being held in Detroit.

For more information and a video link that will allow you watch live coverage of tomorrow's event and chat with the ship builders, please click here. ************************* 50 Year Anniversary

It was a beautiful Saturday afternoon on June 7, 1958, as more than 10,000 people lined the banks of the Detroit River.

They had come to witness the launching of Hull 301 at the Great Lakes Engineering Works of River Rouge, Michigan.

Mrs. Edmund Fitzgerald, wife of the president of the Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company for which the ship was named, christened the brand new ship and at 12:38 p.m. the 729-foot Edmund Fitzgerald slid gracefully into the basin amid cheers, salutes, and well-wishers.

For many of those in attendance, it was a spectacle that they would never forget.

The shipyard workers who constructed “Big Fitz” felt a deep sense of satisfaction as they anxiously watched the launch of this marvelous vessel.

Being a prideful lot, they often endured long hours and harsh conditions.

This was their “crowning achievement” and the beauty of their craftsmanship was truly evident to all those present.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of that memorable event.

It is an opportunity to reflect on and celebrate a joyous time in our lives.

It is also a chance to recall the great pride and cherished memories experienced by the ship workers, the community, and all who had the opportunity to witness the launching of the Edmund Fitzgerald.

On this historic occasion, let us joyously share our personal stories, renew old friendships, and fondly remember the day when the “Queen Of The Lakes” was born.

************************* History Event

Great Lakes Ship Builders June 7 2008 Gibraltar Historical Museum Lake Erie Metropark 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The Lake Erie Metropark will be hosting a Downriver Historical Event and Celebration featuring the 50th anniversary of the S.S. Edmund Fitzgerald.

This will also include workshops on shipbuilders, ships built in Gibraltar and downriver in the last 200 years.

There will be a Salute to Excellence Award, Meet the Designers and Ship Builders Launch Commemoration and lots of art and artists.

This historical event will be hosted at the Marshlands Museum and Nature Center and the Gibraltar Historical Museum will also be a part of this celebration day with special hours of 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.

Metropark fee $4.

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David Helwig

About the Author: David Helwig

David Helwig's journalism career spans seven decades beginning in the 1960s. His work has been recognized with national and international awards.
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