Tuesday marked 50 years since one of the deadliest ferry disasters in U.S. History, when the George Prince ferry was struck by the Norwegian tanker Frosta, killing 77 people.
The ferry was crossing the Mississippi River from Destrehan to Luling in the early morning hours.
Many families affected gathered at the East Bank Bridge Park for the 50th memorial ceremony led by Parish President Matthew Jewell.
After a prayer, a presentation of colors, and remarks from elected officials, the 77 names of the lives lost were read aloud by councilmembers.
One of the names read was Adolph Smith Sr., who was the father of Keith Smith.
Keith Smith was 16 years old at the time of the tragedy.
“I remember the last words I heard him say that morning to my mom,” said Smith, “He told my mom, ‘I’ll see you when I get back.”
Another name read was Anthony Monistere, the father of sisters Tammy and Sherry Monistere.
The sisters said their father was one of the last bodies to be recovered from the water.
“They didn’t find my dad for three days. And so I remember coming home from school and my mom saying, ‘Your dad might have drowned,'” said Sherry Monistere, who was 11 years old at the time. “It was just hard and traumatic as a child, you know, waiting those three days.”
According to St. Charles Parish, the ceremony served as a way for families to come together and reflect, as five decades later, the lasting impact of sadness is still felt throughout St. Charles Parish.
“That’s why we have the ceremonies, to make sure that those stories continue on,” said Jewell, “that the names and the traditions and that the lives of the people lost are remembered forever.”
After the ceremony, a screening of filmmaker Royd Anderson’s film “The Luling Disaster” was shown at the West Regional Library.
The showings will continue at various locations throughout the parish until Friday.
READ MORE:St. Charles Parish remembers the 77 lives lost in the Luling Ferry Disaster
