We were greeted by the best weather of the voyage this morning. Sunrise\u00a0revealed clear skies and the wind was blowing at 15 knots. As fate would\u00a0have it, the swells out of the NE were in perfect contrast to the winds\u00a0from the SW which allowed the mate to head into the seas and reduce the\u00a0wind across the deck for the ceremony.<\/p>\n
All hands not on watch turned out as a few words were said about the loss\u00a0of our shipmates, including Captain Davidson, Danielle Randolph, Mitchell Kuflik,\u00a0Michael Holland, and Dylan Meklin. Captain Eadie read from John\u00a0Masefield’s “Sea Fever<\/a>.” After the poem, the order to “present arms” was\u00a0given and all hands rendered honors as the wreath was eased over the rail\u00a0and lowered to the water by the Cadet Masters & Cadet Chief Engineers.<\/p>\n As the wreath floated free, the mate on watch gave a long blast of the ship’s\u00a0whistle to signal our farewell and the ceremony concluded. Afterward,\u00a0many students remained at the rail to watch as the wreath passed from\u00a0sight in what was a beautiful but somber morning.<\/p>\n After the ceremony, President Brennan reflected, \u201cAll were truly inspired and connected. The ceremony was somber yet cathartic, well done, and appropriate. I was moved before it began, when I went out on deck at about 0700 and saw the American flag flying at half-mast and signal flags flying to represent the last names of the MMA El Faro crew: D-R-K-H-M.<\/p>\n We wish peace to all.<\/p>\n\n\t\t