The 43rd annual service in memory of those who perished in the Ocean Ranger disaster was held yesterday in St. John’s.

And once again, it was led by the youth of Gonzaga High School, many of whom weren’t born until 25 years after the rig was lost.

Several hundred people attended the all-faiths service at the Basilica either in person or online, while a smaller group assembled in the sun and bitter wind for a wreath-laying at the Ocean Ranger memorial on Confederation Hill.

The rig capsized and sank in a violent storm off Newfoundland in the early hours of February 15th, 1982.

All 84 men aboard were lost, with only 22 of them recovered.

Five were former students of Gonzaga, which has traditionally hosted the annual memorial service.

Student Seth Hyde reflected on the significance of the tragedy for people today, while providing some ahead-of-his-time advice.

“Please take this moment to appreciate the short time we have on this Earth, commit to making the most of every opportunity you are given, and always take time to reflect and to remember those who have gone before us.”

Meanwhile, the recently formed Ocean Ranger Legacy Foundation is reporting “good progress” in its quest to see artifacts from the rig returned to this province from a museum in Ottawa, and put on public display.

They say while there’s no timeline yet, “members have a clearer understanding of what is required to bring the artifacts home.”