Hundreds gather at El Faro vigils

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Hundreds of people gathered on a very somber Thursday night in Jacksonville as two vigils, one at Jaxport and the other in Oceanway, were held to remember the 33-person crew of the missing cargo ship El Faro.

Family members said it was a hard night with little closure, because the search for missing ship and its crew was called off Wednesday night.

The two vigils happened on opposite ends of town, drawing hundreds of people in support of the missing crew, many of whom they had never met.

"It is crucial people come out and show these families how much we love them. They have our full support," supporter Lakeisha Nealon said.

"Standing here just kind of makes it real. I don't know who's been impacted or not. I'm just here to be here for everybody," attendee Lorrain Ley said.

The loss of the El Faro crew, many of whom were from Jacksonville, has been heart wrenching to watch for the city and devastating for the dozens of families left behind, supporters said.

Carla Newkirk's father, Larry Davis, was one of the crew members lost. She showed up with family to light a candle for her dad.

"It's been a rollercoaster ride. It's not a fun one either. Not a fun one, but it's been a roller coaster," Newkirk said. "Everything's in chaos right now. Just chaotic. My father was an awesome guy. Very feisty, a fighter and just an amazing dad, I couldn't ask for a better one."

One of the prayers heard Wednesday between the two vigils was asking that the Coast Guard would search a little more and bring home the bodies of the crew members who were lost.

"I haven't been doing too good, because I don't have any closure. I really would like for you all to find my son so I can bury him. I will never have no closure until you all find my son out of the sea," Brenda Shields, whose son, Jackie Jones, was on the El Faro, said.

At the vigil outside of Jaxport, the group MAD DADS was called in to help organize it. The group usually conducts vigils for victims of crime, but in this case, a family member of one of the crew called for their help, and they were happy to step in.
 


About the Author:

Scott is a multi-Emmy Award Winning Anchor and Reporter, who also hosts the “Going Ringside With The Local Station” Podcast. Scott has been a journalist for 25 years, covering stories including six presidential elections, multiple space shuttle launches and dozens of high-profile murder trials.