THE STORY OF "VIGIL"

For every fisherman who went to sea there was a vigil kept by the women who stayed behind waiting for their return. These women provided the civilizing influences that kept the home fires burning and perpetuated the culture. They taught the young, nursed the sick and cared for the elderly. They were the steady hands behind the schools, the churches and the community.

The "Vigil" sculpture is a tribute to these unsung women. It depicts a mother, grandmother and a child at water's edge awaiting the return of the fishing fleet at the turn of the century. It is a celebration of Blaine's rich fishing heritage and those brave souls that rose to the challenges.

In a larger sense, these three generations represent the Past, the Present and the Future, both theirs and Blaine's.