My RMS Titanic Boarding Pass

RMS Titanic Boarding Pass

In October of 2010, my wife Patty and I found ourselves in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. Driving down Highway 441 we spotted the Titanic Exhibit. It was almost impossible to miss. An almost life size replica Titanic ship jutting out into the highway including iceberg. There are hundreds of actual Titanic relics salvaged from the wreck and an authentic replica of the grand staircase and hallways and state rooms.

When you arrive, the workers are dressed in White Star period costumes. Captain Smith was very entertaining indeed. As you enter the attraction, each person receives a boarding pass with a name from one of the original passengers with a synopsis of whether that passenger survived or perished.

One of my relatives, whose first and last name is the same as mine, was aboard the Titanic but perished. My relative was in third class, as was all the Irish folk coming to America to begin a new life. As an added bonus, my loving wife Patty called the museum ahead and asked if perchance I would be able to receive my relatives boarding pass instead of a random passenger boarding pass. Of course she was able to finagle this without my knowledge.

Imagine my surprise as the White Star Line employee handed me my boarding pass and I saw my own name on the ticket. I had the boarding pass framed. It is the one pictured above with my name blanked out. It was such an odd feeling to see your name on the boarding pass knowing your relative was on that fateful voyage.

And yes, my relative was a hero helping women and children get through the locked gates below deck to the precious few life boats. Alas, my relative perished in the disaster.

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