"S. O. S. ...has now become my phrase for the plight of the Schooner Ernestina! In this case, of course it doubles for the term Save Our Schooner!!!!!!!!!



It is official that this grand vessel, which was a GIFT to the State of Massachusetts by the Cape Verdean government in the mid- '80's and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.... in now on the ENDANGERED SPECIES list for National Parks, etc. in our country. I cannot tell you emphatically enough how saddened and DISGRACED this makes me feel... not only that our government will or can not appropriate enough money to keep her afloat and serving our school children as an Educational Vessel...not only that I finally completed my college degree in Anthropology to serve on her beside Traudi...for the benefit of ALL OUR People...and got to serve for 3 months during the summer of 2004 as the ECHO coordinator and was laid off...with the ENTIRE crew and staff except for Annie, who runs the office... BUT I AM ASHAMED FOR THE FAMILY WHO CAME TO THIS COUNTRY ON THIS HISTORIC VESSEL... AND FOR the MENDES FAMILY... who toiled and died loving and caring for this ship... she once sailed with the grace and honor of a TALL SHIP... and now sits in such pitiful disrepair in dry dock that it makes my cry.!!!

HELP, PLEASE HELP.... I would like to start an initiative to not only host a "gathering" in support of her...I Spoke to Donald Gomes last night and he is going to look into a place in N.B. for possibly early spring (March?)... AND I have been toying with the idea of developing a license plate campaign... after all, she too is now an endangered species...supposedly supported and run under the National Parks Service.... so,

I would like to hear from anyone who would agree to purchase a license plate with the Ernestina's picture on it as a fund-raiser for her going forward. I will look into getting the hundreds of signatures I know we'll need to even begin...and please let me know of any other initiatives you can think of to stop this disgraceful death of our legacy before it's too late. Small pockets of very active folks from all over New Bedford AND New England have been active "behind the scenes" trying to get funding for her but we cannot wait any longer ...we need BIG SUPPORT FROM ALL ... but the Cape Verdean Community should LEAD THE CHARGE once again... as they so aptly did some 25 years ago....THEY REALLY GOT THE JOB DONE!!!!!!"

As Always, Yours in Cape Verdean Spirit... Barbara Monteiro Burgo

Please, contact Barbara at 'bjmonteiro@aol.com' to help with this cause!

Also write your comments and ideas here about how we can stop Ernestina from disappearing from our history.