Marilyn Turk's Blog, page 5

Writing with Ernest

 

Ernest Hemingway1

Ernest Hemingway was not my favorite author, in fact, I haven’t read most of what he’s written, but despite my own knowledge of his work, he was a successful author. And he was a serious writer.

Hemingway had several interests – fishing, hunting, boxing, cats and perhaps you could add women. But he had no doubt that his priority was writing.

I recently had the opportunity to tour the house where he lived in Key West, Florida, which therefore piqued my interest about him. I learned he was a newspaper journalist who covered wars, that he in fact served in World War I, and that he took his writing seriously.

He had a colorful personality and a lifestyle I would not want to live. We differ on morals and spiritual beliefs. In fact, the only things we truly have in common are a fondness for cats, the tropics, and writing.

Hemingway knew about writing. He was passionate about and committed to his work. He got up at the same time every day, went to his office and wrote until noon. He did not worry about how many words he wrote, just that they were good words. And he had certain techniques and beliefs about writing that can also be adapted by any writer. I’d like to share with you some of his quotes about writing, some you may relate to as well.

“We are all apprentices in a craft where no one ever becomes a master.”

“There’s no rule on how it is to write. Sometimes it comes easily and perfectly. Sometimes it’s like drilling rock and then blasting it out with charges.”

“I love to write. But it has never gotten any easier to do, and you can’t expect it to if you keep trying for something better than you can do.”

“Writing is something that you can never do as well as it can be done. It is a perpetual challenge, and it is more difficult than anything else that I have ever done—so I do it. And it makes me happy when I do it well.”

In answer to ‘How much should you write a day?’ Hemingway said, “The best way is always to stop when you are going good and when you know what will happen next. If you do that every day when you are writing a novel, you will never be stuck.”

“I never use a word without first considering if it is replaceable.”

“There is nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at a typewriter and bleed.”

“Write hard and clear about what hurts.”

“The hard part about writing a novel is finishing it.”

“If a writer stops observing he is finished. Experience is communicated by small details intimately observed.”

Every writer is gifted to write in their own special way. We are not called to write like Ernest Hemingway. Or for that matter F. Scott Fitzgerald, Virginia Woolf, Mark Twain, Charles Dickens or others. However, we can glean from the writing techniques and habits they had. Even the apostle Paul had his own writing style and said so in 2 Thessalonians 3:17, “I, Paul, write this greeting in my own hand, which is the distinguishing mark in all my letters. This is how I write.”

Christmas at an Offshore Lighthouse in the UK

 

Bishop Rock, photo by Richard Knights, Creative Commons

 

Have you ever wondered what it was like to be a lighthouse keeper at Christmas at one of the isolated lighthouses in the middle of the water? Here’s a story about how some lighthouse keepers in the United Kingdom spent Christmas.

It was early December 1969, and time for the lighthouse keeper to return to the lighthouse and relieve another keeper. His last three weeks at home would have to suffice for the holidays because he would not be home for Christmas.

The keeper boarded the helicopter that would take him six miles out in the Atlantic Ocean to a lone lighthouse, noticing the dark sky and the howl of gale force winds. Boxes of supplies containing enough food to feed three keepers for a month plus some extra treats were loaded onto the chopper along with him.

Buffeted by the wind, the helicopter made it to the lighthouse and landed on the small helipad on top. The boxes were unloaded and lowered through hatches in the landing platform to the keepers that waited below, while the keeper who was going home climbed into the helicopter and took off.

At the lighthouse, the keepers emptied the boxes and stored the meat in their fridge. They discussed news at home and from other lighthouses. As they opened boxes, they found a letter from the local rotary club who had sent a Christmas gift for all of them.

They’d received all they needed for their Christmas meal—meat, potatoes and even a cake. Everything else in the box was in threes—three tins of fruit, three small Christmas puddings, three stockings of oranges, apples and nuts, so that each man received an equal share of goodies. In addition to the rotary club, the keepers got other treats from churches or school groups who also sent letters and cards to let the keepers know they had not been forgotten. In addition, the keepers received presents from their own families back on the mainland.

The lighthouse was decorated with streamers and Christmas cards they had received, plus an old artificial Christmas tree that they brought out of the closet once a year.

Skerryvore lighthouse

On Christmas Day, the keepers greeted each other in the kitchen at breakfast and exchanged small gifts. Next, they unwrapped presents from their families while back on the mainland, their families were also opening presents. The keeper who was the “cook of the day” returned to get dinner ready while the other two left the kitchen to telephone their homes and wish them Merry Christmas.

When the three lighthouse keepers finished their noontime Christmas dinner, they helped clean up the kitchen. Afterward, they retired to the lighthouse sitting room where they donned colored paper hats and pulled Christmas crackers. Then they lit cigars and poured beverages to sit back and watch the queen’s speech on the “telly.”

When the queen’s speech was over, the men turned on the radio transmitter. Ever since radio was introduced to the lighthouses, a tradition began that on the afternoon of Christmas Day, each lighthouse would use a special frequency to call other lighthouses, some up to a hundred miles away, spreading Christmas joy by singing Christmas carols to each other. Some of their families back home listened to the same frequency, enjoying a unique time of “togetherness.”

Too soon, the holiday celebration was over, and the keepers returned to their duties. The engine that runs the light was started, the curtains around the lantern room were removed and the electric motor that begins the rotations of the light was turned on so it would be seen by ships out at sea.

After the light was activated, the keepers sat down to enjoy fresh hot tea and finally cut the Christmas cake which they ate with bowls of fruit and cream. Perhaps it wasn’t the best way to spend Christmas, but they were still able to enjoy the holiday. And hopefully, the next year, they would be able to enjoy it at home with their families.

Bell Rock Lighthouse

 

“In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:16

A Thankful Lighthouse

Photo courtesy lighthousefriends.com

The lighthouse at the entrance to the Tchefuncte (pronounced “she funk tee”) River was built in 1837 to guide ships across Lake Ponchartrain, Louisiana, to the port in Madisonville, Louisiana.

Built on low-lying land, the area of the lighthouse and its other buildings like the keeper’s house, the fog signal, outside kitchen, woodshed and outhouses, were subject to flooding during storms. More than once the breakwater around the lighthouse area was rebuilt over the years.

The swampy area of the lighthouse provided pets for one keeper. Benjamin Thurston, the first keeper of the lighthouse, had pet alligators.

Photo courtesy US Coast Guard

Frederick A. Schrieber, who served as keeper from 1920 to 1935, lived at the lighthouse with his wife Lilla and their seven children. Schrieber had to pay seventy-five cents a day for his children to take the ferry to school, which was quite expensive during that time. A visiting inspector requested that the government pay the fare which would be cheaper than hiring a teacher to live at the lighthouse station at a monthly salary of $30.

 

In July 1915, a hurricane struck the station when seventy-three-year-old Keeper Joseph P. Groux was in his twenty-sixth year of service at the lighthouse. The Secretary of Commerce commended Keeper Groux for maintaining the light under hazardous and trying conditions.

The last keeper left in 1939, and the light was solarized in 1952, and the keeper’s cottage was sold and moved into the town of Madisonville where it was used as a private office. The lighthouse was neglected and a target of vandals until the town gained ownership of the property from the Coast Guard in 1999. A group of volunteers formed with plans to restore the lighthouse, and in 2008, the first phase of its efforts began with repairing and repainting.

 

 

This month, after years of effort by the town of Madisonville and the volunteer organization, the lighthouse has received a special gift. The Gulf of Mexico Security Act is sending $1.6 million to shore up the Tchefuncte River Lighthouse and the eroded land around it. Plans are in place to add a pier to the property so that tourists may visit the lighthouse when the restoration is finished.

The Tchefuncte River Lighthouse is a very thankful lighthouse this Thanksgiving.

 

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“Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good.” Psalm 118:29

 

Patriotic Memories at the Lighthouse

Little River Lighthouse, Cutler Maine

In July, 2013, my husband and I had the privilege of being honorary lighthouse caretakers at Little River Light on an island off the coast of Cutler, Maine.

A dream come true, I’ll never forget the experience we had for ten days on the island.

We were  hosts for overnight guests who stayed a night or two in one of the three upstairs bedrooms of the keepers house. We transported them from the mainland to the island, as well as, kept the property cleaned and the yard mowed. Not exactly a bed and breakfast because the guests brought their own food and bedding, we cooked our meals separately, but often shared our mealtimes or morning coffee with our guests.

What a delight it was to meet so many different people from various places in the country and the world!. The flag you see there on the lighthouse was unfurled for special occasions – the fourth of July and the inter-congregational church service that was held one Sunday one the island during the summer. I’m so glad we were there at that time. Kathleen Finnegan, managing editor of Lighthouse Digest, asked me if I wanted to help unfurl and attach the flag on the lighthouse, and of course, I jumped at the opportunity.

All morning that Sunday, lobster boats ferried people across the harbor to the island. The people arrived with folding chairs and umbrellas, while the minister and musician set up under a large open tent. The temperature was unusually warm that day – close to 80 degrees – which was too hot for these Mainers. Funny that the next week, the temperature changed once again and we needed to use space heaters to warm the keeper’s house.  That’s the way things are on an island in the Bay of Fundy. Tides rise and fall, days go from hot to cold and from clear to foggy. In fact, it seemed like we experienced three of four seasons while we were there during July!

This picture of the flag-draped lighthouse represents America to me on so many levels. The lighthouse is part of our history, a beacon that guided mariners and fishermen into safe harbor. The people of Cutler are small-town folk, the type who watch out for their neighbors and keep an eye on things, Americana in its truest form. They knew when strangers (us) were on the island and kept track of our comings and goings. I have no doubt that if we’d needed help, help would’ve appeared instantly. Although we had no phone service to the mainland, we were able to listen to the marine radio which the lobster boats used to communicate to each other.  We heard the latest news about the local little league, whose lobster traps were tangled and what their families were going to do that weekend. I also heard them joke about my husband trying to catch fish near the island, which he did, in fact.

I’m so thankful we had the opportunity to enjoy this slice of America, an experience not available these days. And how appropriate  to represent our nation by displaying our flag during an interdenominational church service. God and country. That’s what we celebrate. God Bless the USA.

“Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord,” Psalm 33:12a

 

 

Lighthouses on Lockdown

Race Point Light, Cape Cod, MA, photo courtesy lighthousefriends.com Closed for overnight stays summer 2020.

With the threat of the COVID virus pandemic, most everyone has been affected in some way.

Our lives have changed, and our futures questioned. For those of us housebound, we’ve hoped for summer vacation as an escape from work and homeschool. Unfortunately, many of us have had to cancel or adjust our vacation plans as well.

Thankfully, there’s been some letting up on restrictions, and we’re seeing some national and state parks reopen. Amusement parks may still open at some point this summer, but some places may not open this year at all.

Ponce Inlet Lighthouse, FL, photo by Chuck Turk. Now open

 

Among those are many lighthouses. Each state has its own regulations, and lighthouses are subject to them. What’s important to remember, however, is that not all lighthouses are under the same management. Some are state-run, some belong to national parks, while others are privately funded and maintained. Most all of them are supported by volunteers who contribute their time and effort out of their love for lighthouses.

 

Cape Hatteras Light, NC, photo by Chuck Turk. Currently closed.

Lighthouses that normally open for the summer depend heavily on the income gained by fees for climbing as well as museum and gift shops. These fees provide much-needed funds to make repairs, paint, and supply the lighthouses with necessary equipment.

 

If you were planning on visiting a lighthouse this summer, please check their respective websites or Facebook pages to see if they’re open. So far, a few in Florida have opened with social distancing restrictions. Others may open a bit later than normal.

 

If you can’t visit, please consider giving a donation to the entity that manages that particular lighthouse and do your part to keep the lights shining.

 

“In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:16

 

Big Bay Point Lighthouse B & B, Michigan, photo courtesy Nick Korstad. Now Open

 

Memorial Day at the Lighthouse

Republished from 2014

Portland Head Light photo by Royalbroil, courtesy Wikimedia

“Here they come!” Nine-year-old Tommy shouted from the front porch.

Polly dried her hands with the dish towel and followed Emily, Tommy’s little sister, to the front door.

Sure enough, coming over the top of the hill were men, women and children toting blankets, chairs and baskets. They surveyed the area, then claimed their spots to set up for picnics.

“Look at all the boats!” Emily pointed toward the water.

They turned their heads in unison to see boats of various types and sizes putting down anchors or pulling into shore where possible. Sailboats and motorboats displaying American flags dotted the bay and shore.

Polly couldn’t help but feel her children’s contagious enthusiasm. She was excited to see people too. After months of isolation at their remote lighthouse home, she was eager to welcome civilization again.

It was Memorial Day weekend, the beginning of summer vacation time. For the next three months, the “summer people” would arrive daily. Some would stay the whole season in their cottages, while many others came for just the weekend or a day’s outing.

Picnics, cookouts, and lobster feasts, accompanied by laughter and fun, were a welcome change from long, lonely days of fog and cold. The lighthouse was a major attraction to the area, so Polly expected curious visitors to stop by, interested in seeing how lighthouse families lived.

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Cape May Lighthouse with flag, photo by Chuck Turk

“Let’s go raise the flag. Would you like to help me?”

“I will! Let me!’ Tommy raced to the flagpole.

“Me too!” Emily ran behind.

As Polly helped the children hoist the flag, her heart swelled with happiness.

When the flag reached the top, Polly put her hand over her heart and said, “Ready, salute,” and she and the children recited the Pledge of Allegiance together.

“Momma, do we have Memorial Day to start summer?” Tommy asked.

The question jolted Polly as she realized how he had made the connection.

“Oh no, Tommy. Memorial Day means much more than that. It’s the day we honor those people who gave their lives serving our country.  People like my grandfather died fighting for us so we could be free.”

Tommy gazed up at the flag waving in the breeze. “My teacher said the flag represents freedom.”

“That’s right.”

“So they died so we could raise our flag.”

“I suppose you’re right.”

“And that’s why all these boats have flags too, to celebrate freedom?” Tommy motioned to the vessels in the water.

“I hope so, son. I hope so.”

 

Little River Light, photo by Chuck Turk

 

 

 

Thank God for the freedom we have and for the men and women who died to give it to us.

 

And thank God for the spiritual freedom Christ gives us.

 

“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.” Galatians 5:1

What do you give a Lighthouse Mother?

New Canal Lighthouse, Flickr, Creative Commons, photo by hatchski

 

What kind of a Mother’s Day gift do you give to a woman who took care of hundreds of people while tending a lighthouse at the same time?

Margaret Norvell, who served as a lighthouse keeper at three different lighthouses in Louisiana, was a “mother” to many for 41 years. With two small children, Margaret took over her husband’s duties as keeper at the Head of Passes Light Station after his death in 1891. In 1896, she was appointed keeper for the Port Ponchartrain Light Station and also tended the New Canal Light.

Port Ponchartrain Light Station, photo courtesy USCG

 

In addition to keeping the light functioning and the fog bell ringing during all kinds of weather, Margaret personally rescued many. Crews of overturned schooners and yachts, passengers of a ferry that caught on fire, and even a pilot whose plane crashed into the lake during a squall were saved by her heroic efforts.

 

Her caregiving extended beyond the duties of a lighthouse keeper. In 1903, a devastating hurricane hit the area, its wind and rain destroying every building in the community except the lighthouse. Margaret provided shelter for over 200 people left homeless by the storm, and even started a relief fund to help them get back on their feet.

So how do you honor such a devoted woman who gave to so many others?

In June, 2013, the U.S. Coast Guard, who now oversees lighthouses, recognized Margaret by naming a Fast Response Cutter after her, the first of its class to be named for a woman. The Margaret Norvell was commissioned in New Orleans where Margaret served, and I had the honor of being invited to the ceremony. Although Margaret passed away in 1934, many of her descendants were on hand to celebrate Margaret’s distinction and pay tribute to her memory.

Margaret would nave been amazed. And so pleased.

 

“Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all.” Proverbs 31:29

 

USCG Cutter Margaret Norvell, photo courtesy USCG

How Writers Cope during the Pandemic

Social distancing on Little River Island in Maine, photo by Chuck Turk

Appointments and meetings have been cancelled. Sports events have been cancelled. Vacations have been cancelled. Even going to church has been cancelled. The government tells us to stay at home to prevent the spread of the disease.

So now, we writers are stuck home with no place to go. What a great opportunity to write! Unlimited time, the type of thing writers dream for, is in our hands. So why am I not writing? Why am I doing other things around the house instead?

I’ve read enough blogs and posts to know I’m not the only writer with this problem now. Despite the lack of social interaction this isolation has caused, the overshadowing threat of the virus looms, perpetuated by the news media. Even if I don’t read or hear about the virus all day, just the knowledge that the threat hangs over us like a giant monster, waiting to consume us is enough of a distraction to stall my momentum.

Perusing social media, I’ve gathered a list of healthy ways other writers cope with this monster. Maybe you’ll see some you’d like to try as well.

Pray – When life is out of our control, we go to someone who has more power than we do.
Get comfortable – really? With enough jokes about wearing real pants, I think we’ve figured that one out.
Give yourself grace – Don’t beat yourself up is you don’t feel like writing. Allow yourself to take a break without guilt.
Grieve, then move on – have you had a good cry lately? We’ve lost a lot – freedom, maybe jobs, our ‘normal,’ not to mention human life. It’s best to let it out and stuff it in.
Find a new hobby. Maybe it’s time for that, “One day when I have time, I’ll…”
Studies show that laughter releases endorphins in your body that in turn, strengthen your immune system, elevate your mood, diminish pain, and protect you from the damaging effects of stress. Author Anne Mateer and her husband found that watching old comedy movies helped ease their anxiety.
Music – Play music – rock, classical, jazz, easy-listening—try different types.
Chocolate – good for any occasion, right?
Limit your exposure to the news. Did you ever learn the children’s tune that says, “Be careful little ears what you hear, or be careful little ears what you see?” Too much exposure to negative input can feed depression.
Let it go, anger, that is. You may be angry about what’s happening and looking for someone to blame. I’m appalled by all the self-appointed police who want to report everyone who’s not obeying the stay-at-home, stay-away mandate. Just as laughter is healthy for you. Anger is bad for you. Anger can cause headaches, digestion problems, such as abdominal pain, insomnia increased anxiety, depression, high blood pressure, skin problems, heart attack, and stroke.
Play games. When was the last time you got those board games out? Instead of watching TV nonstop, do something with your hands and spend time with the others in your household.
Put puzzles together. Not only do they engage the hands, they provide a level of satisfaction.
Go for a walk. Put on your mask if you have to, but get some exercise outside and engage your whole body.
Many writers have a hard time fitting in reading other writers’ work, but now might be the time. Not only does it help to support your fellow writer, you learn to appreciate other writing styles or genres.
Sit in the sun. We know that sunlight increases the body’s production of vitamin D, but it also increases serotonin in the brain which also lifts your mood and reduces stress. Even five minutes in the sun can boost your spirits.
Phone a friend or Face-time with them. Talking to someone else in the ‘same boat’ helps, since we’re not alone in this situation.

 

Have you tried any of these activities? Is there something that has helped you cope during this time? I’d love to hear about it.

 

“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.” Philippians 4:4-9

Thacher Island, Twin Lights, Rockport, MA, photo by Chuck Turk

 

The Little Lady that Saved the Lighthouse

Montauk Point Lighthouse, photo courtesy lighthousefriends.com.

If you visit Montauk Point Lighthouse on the end of Long Island, New York, you’ll find it hard to believe the lighthouse was almost abandoned, either to be destroyed or allowed to fall into the sea by the encroaching waves.

But that is exactly what almost happened. The 110-foot tower, commissioned by George Washington in 1792, was constructed in 1796 and sat 297 feet from the edge of the cliff. By 1967, however, the sturdy tower that Washington predicted would last 200 years, was 55 feet from the edge as a result of wind and wave erosion at the rate of two feet a year. The lighthouse was doomed to fall into the Atlantic Ocean.

Montauk Point Lighthouse, 1961, photo courtesy U.S. Coast Guard

During this same period of time, the U.S. Coast Guard was de-manning nearly two-thirds of lighthouses along the eastern seaboard for budgetary reasons. These old  lighthouses could be replaced by new steel towers with lights on top, operated from a nearby Coast Guard station by remote control. The situation of the Montauk Lighthouse could be resolved the same way. The order was given to find a new site farther inland on which to build the replacement tower, then abandon the Montauk Lighthouse. Before allowing the elements to eventually take the old lighthouse, however, the Coast Guard planned to blow it up to prevent vandalism and insurance problems, a practice that had been carried out at other lighthouses deemed unnecessary.

Discovering this plan, local newspaper writer Dan Rattiner, wrote an article about the plans for the lighthouse and garnered public support in favor of saving it. In 1969, the Coast Guard rescinded their order and the lighthouse was saved. But no one knew what to do about the erosion.

Shortly afterwards, a small retired woman named Giorgina Reid and her husband Donald appeared in the writer’s office, and Mrs. Reid announced they had a plan to stop the erosion. According to the couple, they had faced the same problem after buying a cottage near the sea. But when Giorgina read about how Japanese had used grasses and terraced land to stop erosion, she decided to try the method on their own property which proved successful. Mrs. Reid believed the same method could be used to save the cliff at Montauk.

Giorgina Reid and her husband working on cliff face

Nothing else had worked, so the four-foot, ten inch woman was given the go-ahead to start working at Montauk. For fifteen years, the Reids and a few student volunteers from Stony Brook University went to the lighthouse, built terraces in the bank and planted them with wild grasses to hold the dirt in place.  The huge cliff face was eighty feet high and a quarter mile in length. Concentrating on one 10 by 20-foot patch at a time, the Reids succeeded in stabilizing the soil, refusing the help of the Coast Guard during the process, except for furnishing supplies and hauling things up and down.

Since then, the soil has held, the Montauk Lighthouse still stands, and the Coast Guard has taken over the protection of the cliff face now that the Reids have passed away. There’s a special room in the old keepers’ quarters, the Giorgina Reid Room of the Montauk Lighthouse Museum, run by the Montauk Historical Society.

Giorgina Reid’s story reminds me of the story of David and Goliath in the Bible, in the book of 1 Samuel, chapter 17. When the whole army had given up on defeating the giant Goliath, the little shepherd boy stepped up and volunteered to go against the enormous enemy. When no one believed he would succeed, he did. When others saw him as too small to handle such a big problem, he did. He rejected a soldier’s armor and weapons, choosing instead the gifts God had given him. And when others believed he would fail, he believed he would succeed. Like Mrs. Reid’s past experience proved to be successful, David’s past experience as a shepherd proved his faith in God’s ability to succeed.

Montauk Lighthouse, photo by Chuck Turk

 

 

 

“Everything is possible for one who believes.” Mark 9:23

 

Honoring Our Lighthouse Ancestors

West Quoddy Head Lighthouse, Maine, photo by Laura Timberman

Ebenezer Wormel, keeper at West Quoddy 1849-1851, recently honored

Today’s post was written by Special Guest Timothy Harrison, Editor of Lighthouse Digest

For almost all of modern history the men and women who have served in our nation’s military forces have been honored with veteran’s markers at their grave sites at community cemeteries across the United States.

However, the men and women who once served in the United States Lighthouse Service were never given this honor, even though the duties of a lighthouse keeper were no different after the organization was taken over in 1939 by the United States Coast Guard.  They always guarded our coasts, protected mariners from danger, and many died in the line of duty due to the perils of the job.

This oversight of veteran recognition was probably because the U.S. Lighthouse Service was considered a civilian organization, even though its male personnel wore uniforms and it was managed under many of the same rules, regulations, and guidelines used by other military branches of the government.

Lighthouse Keeper memorial markers

Starting in 2011, in an attempt to rectify this situation, Lighthouse Digest became the first organization in the nation to start placing United States Lighthouse Service memorial markers at the gravesites of those who served in the Lighthouse Service as lighthouse keepers, crewman on lighthouse tenders and lightships, and in various other positions of the U.S. Lighthouse Service.

 

 

Since then Lighthouse Digest has placed Lighthouse Service memorial markers at the graves of dozens of Maine’s lighthouse keepers, as well as lighthouse keepers in Louisiana and the Pacific Northwest. Lighthouse Digest did this in hopes that other lighthouse groups, as well as private individuals, would follow their lead, but the process has been slow. So, our motto in doing this has always been, “If we don’t do it, who will?”

 

There are thousands of keepers’ graves yet to be marked. To help make a difference and contribute to the Lighthouse Grave Marker program go to https://www.gofundme.com/USLHSgraves

 

A pillar of fire by night to give them light that they might travel.

Exodus 13:21