Lecture- "The Tragedy of the Pelican "

On the sunny morning of September 1, 1951, 62 people set sail from Montauk for a day’s fishing, along with 2 crew members.  When a freak storm rolled in and the fishing vessel Pelican tried to return to port, it was hit by a massive wave and capsized only a mile off the Montauk Point Lighthouse.  Forty-five people were lost, including the captain, and the bodies of 18 of them were never recovered.  For the past four years, the Montauk Historical Society has been seeking to find survivors, family members of the victims and others with stories to tell about the Pelican. This lecture will address how the disaster occurred, what the Coast Guard did to ensure it would never happen again, and why it took over 70 years to recognize the tragedy and create a memorial.  A 15-minute film will be shown.  Join us for this special lecture inside the…