The Gloucester Fishermen's Wives Association (GFWA) was formed in 1969.
The GFWA started as a group of primarily Sicilian American women, many
first-generation immigrants, and initially focused on concerns of local
fishermen. GFWA is still a non-profit organization
"promoting the New England fishing industry, helping to preserve the
Atlantic Ocean as a food supply for the world, and assisting active and retired
fishermen and their families to live better lives. This statue was sculpted in finished
August 2001 and was sponsored by the GFWA. The monument resembles the
strength of a fisherman's wife waiting for her love to return from sea.
It also shows you how the children are impacted by this type of life
style, waiting for their father to return home.
"Taking watch of harbor through days and nights
With his hands firmly gripping at the wheel
Our statue of yesteryear and today
With his eyes fixed like hardened steel
Many seasons and storms have passed him by
Since the Captain was dedicated by our shore
Through raging winds and sunlit skies
The Captain has done his faithful chore
The sands of time that has ebbed and flowed
In circling our great statue of the sea
Like the many stories of Fishermen of old
Our Captain sets the spirit within us free
The inscription etched below his feet
So treasured to the Fishermen in many ways
When the Sands of Time are stilled we’ll meet
Those we have lost now raised by God
From the oceans grave"
By Peter A. Todd
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"A woman knows the face of the man she loves as a sailor knows the open sea"
Honore de Balzac
Links and Sources
http://www.gfwa.org/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gloucester_Fishermen's_Wives_Association
http://www.morganfauldspike.com/the-gloucester-fishermens-w/
http://capeannonline.yuku.com/reply/366909/Re-Gloucester-Fishermens-Wifes- MemorialNot-For-Sale#.Uy9B1krD8v1
Another good post Phil. I have not seen this statue but will check it out next time I am in Gloucester.
ReplyDeleteI've seen this statue before. It's very emotional because it means "the waiting family for their husband/father to come home".
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