More progress made on Mariners' Memorial construction

Work continues on the Wrangell Mariners' Memorial, a project to honor the memory of Wrangell seafarers who have lost their lives. As previously reported in the last construction update, the roof of the memorial's gazebo was recently installed. Jenn Miller-Yancey, with the Mariners' Memorial Board, said that more progress has recently been made. Some recent advancements in the project, she wrote in an email to the Sentinel, were made to help honor the memory of two local fishermen.

Siguard and Helen Decker, 21-years-old and 19-years-old, were two of four people who passed away in a car accident at the end of July. When the news broke, Miller-Yancey wrote in an email, the memorial's lighthouse was lit up in their memory. The light will stay on permanently, she said, adding that the Decker family has been instrumental in the mariners' memorial project. She also extended her thanks to Wrangell resident Clay Hammer for rigging up the light.

Another big step forward in the project, she added, was the placement of an 800-pound compass rose in the center of the lighthouse pavilion.

"This job took many, many strong backs," she wrote. "Young fisherman [sic] of our community and their friends, all close to Sig and Helen Decker, were asked to assist with this task. There is a video available of this ceremonial placing of the compass rose on the Wrangell Mariners' Memorial Facebook page. It was a very moving event and we appreciate all of the young adults that came out to help with this and then followed by finishing off prepping the site. They all worked so well together that the compass rose was placed correctly the very first time down."

A celebration of life was held for Sig and Helen Decker at the memorial on Aug. 1. Miller-Yancey wrote that the Decker family has requested that part of a GoFundMe account set up in honor of Sig and Helen be donated to the memorial project. This is a very generous and thoughtful donation, she said, and will help install the memorial walls and continue work on the grounds. The board is also working to finalize plans to take applications for memorial plaques, she added.

"We appreciate all of the hands that came together to help make the Wrangell Mariners' Memorial site usable in a very short time duration, and are equally appreciative of this very giving and supportive community," she wrote. "The love Wrangell has for its own is like no other."