On August 5, 2001, the Gloucester Fishermen’s Wives Association (GFWA) dedicated a monument to honor the women who have been – and are – the soul of fishing communities.

As Angela Sanfilippo, GFWA president, so eloquently said at the dedication ceremony:
“The memorial serves as a testimonial to what wives, mothers, sisters, and children of fishermen of the world have endured because their men chose to be on the water. They had no choice but to stand on rock, to be on land.”

Envisioned by the wives, mothers, daughters, and sisters of Gloucester fishermen, the memorial honors not only the faith, diligence, and fortitude of the wives of fishermen and mariners everywhere but also honors all women for their unselfish contribution to the well being of their families and their communities.