By Greg McCorkle
Sunday evening a vigil was held near the Vigor Shipyard on the north end of Harbor Island to honor the passing of two fallen workers. An estimated 200 family, friends, and co-workers gathered on the pedestrian footbridge near the north end of Harbor Island to share stories of the lives of Bill “Bull” Shelby and Steve Cushing who passed away last week.

Members from all phases of the shipbuilding community were in attendance.

Bill Shelby was 39 years old and had been working as a shipwright since 2006. Steve Cushing was a boilermaker and started his career at age 18 in 1989.

Mr. Shelby fell 100 feet to his death while working on a scaffolding at Vigor Shipyard early last Friday and Steve Cushing passed away from a non-work related incident earlier in the week. Stories of love and respect were shared by many at the vigil.

A memorial service for Bill Shelby was held in the Bremerton area over the weekend and the Cushing family will hold services for Steve in the coming week.