Chicago, Illinois -- This past Sunday, July 24, 2022, the Eastland Disaster Historical Society hosted the 107th anniversary commemoration of the Eastland Disaster. We were honored to have the participation of the United States Coast Guard Marine Safety Unit Chicago this year. Commander Timothy S. Tilghman gave the Coast Guard's remarks, and later the USCG crew placed the spray of flowers into the river in memory of the 844 souls who died as well as the thousands of others who were affected by the tragedy.
Commander Timothy S. Tilghman, USCG Marine Safety Unit Chicago shares his remarks
Andreas Morgen and Marnee Schereck (Schereck Designs floral studio in Pullman) donated the beautiful memorial wreath that stands next to the historical marker along Upper Wacker Drive
The crew of the United States Coast Guard Marine Safety Unit Chicago stand at the ready
The crew of the United States Coast Guard Marine Safety Unit Chicago place the memorial flowers into the Chicago River
The crew of the United States Coast Guard Marine Safety Unit Chicago salute in memory of the Eastland Disaster
Commander Timothy S. Tilghman, USCG Marine Safety Unit Chicago observes a moment of silence as the flowers are placed into the Chicago River by his crew in memory of the 844 victims and the thousands of others who were affected by the tragedy
The granddaughters of Bobbie Aanstad (co-founders of EDHS) drop rose petals into the Chicago River
Family members representing the Swangren/Selig families and the Patrunky family at the 107th anniversary commemoration
Rose petals and a spray of flowers drift on the Chicago River in memory of the 844 souls and the thousands of others who were affected by the tragedy
Commander Timothy S. Tilghman and two of the crew of the United States Coast Guard who participated in the commemoration
Two of the crew of the United States Coast Guard who participated in the commemoration
Andreas Morgen and Marnee Schereck stand with Ted Wachholz (Andreas and Marnee donated the beautiful memorial wreath that stands next to the historical marker along Upper Wacker Drive)
Representatives from EDHS and the USCG following the commemoration ceremony
Later in the afternoon, it was also our privilege to attend the grave marker dedication ceremony for Miss Anna Kubiak at Resurrection Cemetery in Justice, Illinois. Anna was a 17-year-old girl of Polish descent who worked at Western Electric's Hawthorne Works. A victim of the Eastland Disaster, she was buried in an unmarked grave. Her grave remained nameless for over one-hundred years until her extended family (together with Jim Retseck) coordinated the installation of her headstone.
