HALIFAX, Nova Scotia - The haunting melody of "Amazing Grace" cuts through the solemn silence of Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia, 18 U.S. Coast Guardsmen pay their respects to the victims of one of the most tragic maritime disasters in history, the sinking of the RMS Titanic.

The Unsinkable Ship

Photo by Petty Officer Charly Hengen (ENLARGE)

Petty Officer David Fred Luke and Petty Officer Kevin Deininger hold wreaths dedicated to the victims that perished in the Titanic disaster while looking at tombstones at Fairview Lawn Cemetery with Petty Officer Michael Hengen.

Photo by Petty Officer Charly Hengen (ENLARGE)

Capt. Harry Crawford, chaplain of Canadian Forces Base Halifax, blesses the wreaths used to memorialize those lost in the Titanic disaster at Fairview Lawn Cemetery, Halifax, Nova Scotia. Holding the wreaths are Petty Officer Kevin Deininger, Petty Officer David Fred Luke and Petty Officer Lee Brittle.

Photo by Petty Officer Charly Hengen (ENLARGE)

Petty Officer Wade Mendenhall lays a bouquet of flowers at the tombstone of an unidentified child during the 96th Titanic Memorial Service held at Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Launched on May 31, 1911, the 882-ft RMS Titanic, was an industrial and technological marvel. Funded by American J.P. Morgan and his International Marine Mercantile Co. the ship was designed to transport passengers across the Atlantic in the most luxurious manner possible. First class passengers enjoyed the most opulent furniture, decorations and amenities afloat including: cuisine prepared at Café Parisien, a Turkish bath, gymnasium, swimming pool and libraries.

Passengers in the lower class berthing areas on the ship did not have access to some of the ship's finer things but all passengers were guaranteed one thing, a modern day luxury liner, equipped with water tight doors, capable of speeds of 23 knots.

Night of the Sinking

The Titanic's maiden voyage ended tragically on April 15, 1912 when White Star Line's claims of the Titanic being unsinkable were tragically proven wrong.

Following a collision with an iceberg it took less than four hours for the stricken ship to slip beneath the waves leaving hundreds to die in the bitterly cold waters of the northern Atlantic Ocean due to of a shortage of lifeboats.

Luckily the radio operators on the ship sent a distress call to the RMS Carpathia approximately 58-miles away. The Carpathia rushed to the scene and began rescuing survivors. Over the next few hours, the crew of the Carpathia saved the lives of 705 people.

After rescuing the survivors, Carpathia sailed for New York. Upon arriving the ship was greeted by thousands of people searching for family members and loved ones traveling onboard the Titanic.

Recovery Begins

After receiving news of the sinking, White Star Lines made arrangements with the cable ships MacKay-Bennett to recover the Titanic victims. Three other ships, the Minia, Montmagny and the Algerine assisted with the search. Many bodies were returned to sea because they could not be identified. Others were sent to Halifax for families to identify for proper burial.

Thirty teams of undertakers, hailing from locations throughout Nova Scotia assisted in the process of preparing the bodies for burial. A curling rink was made into a make-shift mortuary and a room was set aside for grieving family members and friends as they came to identify their loved ones. Coroners worked around the clock to keep up with the steady stream of Titanic victims.

The First Memorial

Eighteen days after the sinking, memorial services were held at St. Mary's Cathedral and the Brunswick Street Methodist Church in Halifax. During the services, 50 bodies were taken to the Fairview Cemetery for interment. Fairview Cemetery holds the highest number of victims at 121. In total, 209 bodies were transported to Halifax. Three city cemeteries contain the graves of 150 victims. Fifty-one bodies were claimed and taken elsewhere for burial. Of the 328 bodies recovered, including those buried at sea, 118 remain unidentified. Those unidentified contain only a number on their tombstone with a date reading April 15, 1912.

Preventing Tragedies

In response to the Titanic disaster, the first meeting of the International Conference for Safety of Life at Sea, convened in London on November 12, 1913. The conference, attended by representatives from the world's major maritime powers, helped lay the ground work for the International Ice Patrol.

On Feb. 7, 1914, the Revenue Cutter Service, a direct predecessor to the modern Coast Guard began patrolling the waters of the northern Atlantic to prevent similar maritime tragedies from occurring. With the exception of World Wars I and II, the Coast Guard's International Ice Patrol conducts routine patrols of the north Atlantic shipping lanes, playing a significant role in protecting lives, ships and commerce traveling between the continents of Europe and North America.

A Team Effort

The International Ice Patrol has a broad base of support from countries around the world. These countries include: Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Norway, Panama, Poland, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom and United States of America.

Three Wreaths

Upon completion the bagpiper's haunting tune, Capt. Harry Crawford, chaplain of Canadian Forces Base Halifax offers a prayer before calling for a moment of silence to remember the 1,500 souls who lost their lives on that tragic night 96 years ago.

"The Titanic was a marine disaster. Not only is this ceremony in recognition of the Titanic tragedy, but also in recognition of the tragedies that occur in our coastal communities every day," said Crawford.

Crawford then ends the ceremony by blessing three special wreaths used to memorialize those lost in the Titanic disaster presenting them to Coast Guard Cmdr. Scott Rogerson, the Commanding Officer of the Coast Guard's International Ice Patrol.

Remembrance

Cold air and the droning of four massive propeller engines engulf Coast Guard Petty Officer's Kevin Deininger, David Fred Luke and Chief Petty Officer Tom Tschantre as they open the rear door of the Coast Guard C-130 Hercules aircraft preparation to deposit the wreaths at the location of the Titanic's final tragic moments.

"It's a great moment to be a part of something historic by dropping the wreath to remember those lives lost," said Deininger.

As the wreaths slowly fall to the water's surface they are swallowed, like those whose memories they are dedicated too, by the ocean.

The rear door of the C-130 slowly closes Coast Guard's International Ice Patrol returns to its mission of protecting lives at sea.