Tribute to coast guard speaks to Shea Heights' community spirit: MHA

Thursday night's motorcade tribute to the coast guard after a tragic boating accident symbolizes the strength of Shea Heights, says the area's MHA.

"Shea Heights is a great community, and when somebody in Shea Heights needs help, the community comes out in full force to help," Waterford Valley MHA Tom Osborne told CBC on Friday.

Osborne has been supporting the families of the four fishermen who went missing Tuesday

Tom Osborne delivers thanks from families of missing fishermen

8 years ago

Duration 2:32

The families of the fishermen who went missing off the coast of Cape Spear are thankful for everyone's efforts this week, according to MHA Tom Osborne.

"Even though the family were still going through a very difficult time, they understood that the crew of the coast guard put off a tremendous effort, and spent a long number of hours, as well as the family, looking for lost members," he said.

"To put the thought there to the coast guard, wanting to thank them, even through the difficult time, it just speaks to the amazing community that Shea Heights is."

More than 100 people from the tight-knit community gathered on a shoreline road Thursday evening to say "thank you" to the coast guard for their efforts to find the two men still missing.

As a coast guard vessel pulled into St. John's harbour – ending the search and rescue operation for the two men –people in cars lining the water blew their horns and flashed their headlights.

Friend Kayla Scott says the motorcade was requested by the brother and son of the two men who are still missing.

"The brother and son to the two that are still missing, asked us all to show respect to the coast guard by blowing our horns and flashing our lights. We all lined up across Southside Road, and then once the boat passed us, we all motorcaded to the coast guard building," she said.

"Then after that, every car — about 100 cars or more were involved — they went up on Shea Heights and went in and out of every single street in the community and stopped in front of the men's houses to show the respect and just to show that everybody is there for them."

The Department of Fisheries and Oceans N.L. responded to the tribute Friday with a heartfelt thanks to the people who came out last night and the crews involved in the search. 

The outpouring came as the RCMP took over the job of trying to find the men, who were part of a crew of four on a vessel that capsized Tuesday night near Cape Spear.

The bodies of two of the men were recovered late that night and search and rescue officials brought in several coast guard vessels and military aircraft to try to find the other two.

The Transportation Safety Board is now deciding whether to do a full investigation.

Funerals planned for two boaters 

The funeral for 37-year-old William John "Billy" Humby, one of the two men recovered Tuesday night, will be held on Saturday at 10:30 a.m. at St. John Bosco Parish in Shea Heights, with cremation to follow.

Visitation will be held at Caul's Funeral Home on Lemarchant Road in St. John's Friday from noon to 9 p.m.

The funeral for 18-year-old Keith Walsh Jr. will be held on Tuesday at St. John Bosco Parish at 10:30 a.m. with cremation to follow.

Visitation will be held at Barrett's Funeral Home on Hamilton Avenue in St. John's Sunday from 12 p.m. to 9 p.m. and on Monday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Osborne said the family wanted to thank everyone who helped in the search.

"They're still going through a difficult time, so it's difficult for them to come out and say thank you," he said. "I'm doing it on their behalf. I want to keep it at that message today."