The springtime hustle and bustle of River Street was framed late Thursday afternoon by soaring arcs of water from the fire hoses of two tugs and punctuated by the solemn tolling of a bell as the Propeller Club of the United States, Port of Savannah, commemorated those members of the area maritime community who died in the past year.
It’s an annual tradition for Propeller Club members to come down to the river to observe National Maritime Day, gathering at the SS Savannah monument near the Barnard Street ramp. There they lay a wreath in the water in honor of all mariners lost at sea and ring the bell for each local member lost.
This year, the bell tolled for Coach Thomas “Tommy” Joseph Brennan, Joseph A. “Big Irish” Brinson, Gregory Butler, Joel Hurt “Bud” Clarke, Leo M. Coleman, Nick Craig, William Edward “Eddie” Johnson Jr., Camie Joyner, Stephen Joyner, Leonard L. “Dan” Kelly, George Donald King, William Andrew “Billy” Lamas, Ronald V. Parker, Brian Charles Parker and Benjamin V. “Ben” Smith.
Past presidents and masters of ceremonies Dudley New and Ed Bazemore presided as Anna Arnsdorff rang the World War II-era ship’s bell as each name was announced and Dudley New Jr. laid the wreath in the river.
The solemn part of the ceremony over, members retired to the Harborside Room of the Hyatt Regency Hotel for a reception and awards.
The late Nicholas J. Craig, who served on and commanded several Liberty Ships during World War II, was named “Maritime Person of the Year.”
The “Propeller Club Person of the Year” was retired master mariner Nick Farley, for his role in helping recognize Liberty ship construction in Savannah.
The group also awarded $1,000 scholarships to Georgia Southern University senior Nicholas Rosensweig, GSU junior Carol Robelo, GSU sophomore Richard Rakestraw and State University of New York junior Davis Remler.
As the ceremonies ended, outgoing Propeller Club president Jerry Hogan turned the gavel over to incoming president Nick Puhala.
Earlier in the week, the club laid a wreath at the Sailors’ Burial Ground in Laurel Grove Cemetery and sent a wreath to the grave of Capt. Moses Rogers — captain of the SS Savannah — in Cheraw, S.C.