Last of Lightship Crew Dies

05/14/05 11:39 AM

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Last of Lightship Crew Dies

Harold Flagg, BMCS, USNR passed away on June 2, 2004. Harold was the last surviving crew member of the ill-fated Vineyard Lightship.

In September 1944, the VINEYARD Lightship, WLV 73 with 12 men aboard, was lost with all hands in a great hurricane. Of the 17 actual crewmen, five were ashore at the time of the storm, including Coxswain Harold Flagg. Harold’s dream was to someday see a memorial to the lightship sailors who lost their lives in the line of duty.

That dream became a reality when the Lightship Sailors Memorial was dedicated, in what later became known as Coast Guard Park, on waterfront in New Bedford, Massachusetts. He served for a total of nearly 40 years in the Merchant Marine, U.S. Coast Guard and the U.S. Navy Reserves. Harold was a true friend of the lighthouse preservation movement and will be greatly missed. Harold died eight short weeks after the death of his beloved wife Ethel Frieda Flagg. Our condolences go out to his family.

To learn more about the Lightship Sailors Memorial go to www.LighthouseDigest.com and type in Lightship Memorial in the search box, and it will take you to the story of the dedication.

This story appeared in the July 2004 edition of Lighthouse Digest Magazine. For subscription information about the print edition, click here.

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