Escuminac, 1959

 “Escuminac Memorial Unveiled” , 1969

ESCUMINAC – Distinguished New Brunswickers and humble fishermen Thrusday spent an afternoon down by the sea - remembering 35 men whose lives were snatched away from them and their families 10 years ago this month. The occasion was the unveiling of a seven-ton limestone monument - a permanent memorial of local stone to honor the memory of the men and boys who fell victim to the Escuminac fishing disaster of June, 1959.

A gift of Sir Max Aitken, son of the late Lord Beaverbrook, the statue if of three fishermen, life-sized, who now stand perpetually looking out to sea in this Miramichi Bay community. It was probably the biggest day Escuminac has ever seen as the limousines of Lieutenant-Governor Wallace Bird and other distinguished men were parked beside the half-ton trucks of area fishermen. Riding in the latter vehicles were men and women who were friends, and in many cases relatives, of those lost in the awful storm of 10 years ago - widows and children, fathers and mothers, sisters and brothers all touched by the tragedy.

Lt.-Gov. Bird performed the unveiling, precisely at 2: 19 p.m., after reading a letter from Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II. The letter from The Queen stated she and her husband, the Duke of Edinburgh, were pleased to learn of the memorial. She recalled the bravery of the survivors of victims of the storm whom she and her husband had met at Point du Chene during a visit to the province later in that tragic year. Lt.-Gov. Bird also read a letter from Canadian Governor-General Roland Michener in which he expressed his approval of the memorial.

As the veil dropped from the faces of the three symbolic fishermen in stone, the clear, plaintive notes of Last Post echoed across the bay followed by a 30-second period of silence. As Reveille broke the stillness a Canadian flag was slowly raised from its half-staff poistion to the top of its pinnacle. The ceremonie were opened by Most Rev. Norbert Robichaud, archbishop of Moncton, who gave the invocation. Scripture readings, in French and English, were given by parish priest Rev. B. Boudreau and Rev. R. Barry of Baie Ste-Anne. Eulogies for the lost fishermen were given by Anglican archbishop of Fredericton Most Rev. A.H. O'Neil; Archbishop Robichaud; Hon. Norbert Theriault, local area MLA and provincial health and welfare minister; Premier Louis Robichaud and then premier Hugh John Flemming. In their remarks, all paid tribute to the courage of the 1959 fishermen and the hazards of their present-day fishery.

Many speakers mentioned the efforts of Brigadier Michael Wardell, publisher of The Fredericton Daily Gleaner, who was instrumental in setting up a disaster fund for dependents of the dead fishermen. Brigadier Wardell was also lauded for his work in organizing memorial ceremonies.

Children of two victims of the storm spoke: Jane Kingston, daughter of Windsor Kingston and now student of St. Thomas University in Fredericton; and Lucien Chiasson, son of William Chiasson and a brother of Adrien and Robert Chiasson, all three victims and now a student at radio College of Canada in Toronto. The youngsters are two of the many who have been helped by funds raised shortly after the disaster for that purpose.

After speeches, widows, children and mothers of victims placed wreaths at the base of the memorial, while three Voodoo jet aircraft from CFB Chatham made a low-level sweep in from the sea and over the crowd and memorial. Meanwhile, three fishing boats left their moorings near the Escuminac wharf and headed slowly out to sea.

After conclusion of ceremonies a lobster supper was held in the auditorium of the high school at Baie Ste-Anne. Head table guests included Rev. Barry, Archbishop Robichaud, Lt.-Gov. and Mrs. Bird, Premier and Mrs. Robichaud, Col. A.J. Bauer, commanding officer of CFB Chatham and his wife and Mr. Theriault and his wife. Mr. Theriault acted as master of ceremonies, introducing special guests and making special mention of Claude Roussel, the sculptor who created the memorial.

Source: “Escuminac Memorial Unveiled” , Moncton Daily Times, 20 June 1969, pp. 1, 3.