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According to a Soundings article in
Spring 1986, WHALE, in a culmination of its on-going
support for the Schooner Ernestina served as
fund-raising coordinator for a short, but intense
campaign to raise $300,000 for the ship by July 1, 1986.
A successful campaign would allow Capt. Dan Moreland and
the Schooner Ernestina Commission to accomplish
two things: 1) Complete the historic restoration and
outfitting of the schooner in time to take her to New
York Harbor to participate in Operation Sail 1986-Salute
to Liberty and 2) Provide additional safety and
navigational equipment to meet Coast Guard certification
requirements for an educational vessel. Joining the
Parade of Sail and the dedication of the newly renovated
Statue of Liberty in New York Harbor on July 4, 1986 was
a particularly appropriate voyage for the Ernestina
because of her history as a Cape Verdean packet. OpSail
86 honored the millions of immigrants who have come to
America. The ship sailed as the only one in the
procession that actually carried immigrants to this
country.
A Schooner Ernestina Campaign Committee formed
under the leadership of Thomas N. Bucar, WHALE president.
The members of the committee were: Richard S. Aldrich,
Robert Alves, Benjamin Baker, John Bullard (Mayor of New
Bedford), Charleton Burr, Joseph Cardozo, Robert
MacGregor, Senator William Q. MacLean, Dan Moreland,
Robert Saltmarsh, Chris Scott, and Therese Kelly (WHALE
Director).
"The Ernestina to Cape Verde is
special," said City Councilor Viola Pina, also
of Cape Verdean heritage. "This schooner carried
the hopes and dreams of the Cape Verdean
people." "Today," Ms. Pina said,
" the ship carries the hopes and dreams of the
City of New Bedford."
The Ernestinas departure was the
culmination of several months of intense work to restore
the vessel for the New York trip. WHALE agreed to
coordinate the fund raising campaign to restore the ship.
But it was only by the initiative and commitment of
several individuals who pieced together the complex
financial arrangements which ensured cash flow for the
restoration to make the trip possible.
Charles Dana guaranteed an initial $50,000 loan to
WHALE from David Westgate, Executive Vice-President at
the Bank of New England. Later, on the strength of a
Commonwealth of Massachusetts budget allocation of
$250,000 supported by Senator William Q. MacLean and
Representatives Denis Lawrence and Joseph McIntyre, the
Bank of New England extended an additional $50,000 loan,
unsecured, to WHALE.
Fourth Chapter, the newsletter of the Friends of Ernestina/Morrissey,
Inc. in Bridgeport, CT described the active nature of the
group from that area in an article CT Friends
Contribute Over $25,000 to Schooner Ernestina
in Month of July, in Fall 1986 issue:
On July 4th, twenty-two members of the CT
Friends of Ernestina/Morrissey were onboard the
schooner Ernestina for Operation Sail 86
commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Statue of
Liberty.
Participating were: Dr. & Mrs. Sherman A.
Wengerd of New Mexico, Dr. & Mrs. Dan Turner of
Michigan; members from New York included Tom Bird,
Mr. & Mrs. Warner Kent, Mr. & Mrs. Plante,
Elizabeth & Minerva Currier, and Bradford
Cornell; members from Connecticut were Austen &
Bruce Colgate, Joy Cardozo, Joseph L. Paul, Margie
Betts, John T. Colbert, Cynthia Saunders, J.P.
McCann, Paul Brown and Joe Cardozo.
A special thank you is made to Austen Colgate
of Connecticut, who acted as our liaison with the
Operation Sail office in New York. His untiring
efforts of keeping in contact with the OpSail office,
by visiting each week, secured a $10,000 anonymous
gift from California. In addition, thank yous are in
order to the Olin Corporation for a contribution of
two 25mm Alert Locate kits, Lone Star Industries for
sponsoring President Cynthia Saunders, Connecticut
Bank & Trust for sponsoring board member Joseph
Paul, Johnson & Johnson Products for a packet of
first aid supplies, and all the participants who
contributed $500 towards the 2nd phase of
restoration.
With the support of many, Connecticut Friends
contributed over $19,000 to the Schooner Ernestina
for the Operation Sail 86 event.
Furthermore, the Ocean Classroom contributed
$4,000 to the Schooner Ernestina for her
participation as part of Bridgeports Harborfest
86. Thank yous go out to Jim Schine of Cilco
Terminal, Cynthia Saunders, Kaye Williams of
Captains Cove Seaport, Todd Haines of the New
Parsells Marina, Jim & Maura
ODonnell, Dick & Cathy Lomberg, Eileen
Manning, Joe Cardozo, Bob Cowell, and J.P. McCann who
taxied and helped the crew to showers, grocery
shopping, hardware supplies, etc.
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