How to Honor the Anniversary of the Titanic Sinking

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

sparklers or candles
Titanic books or websites
Titanic documentaries or movies
pencil and paper to create logs for accountability (optional)

Step 1

MARK YOUR CALENDARS

Can't remember the date? Here's an easy trick. The RMS Titanic sank on what is now the American tax deadline - April 15th. The ship struck the iceberg on April 14th at 11:40 p.m. The Titanic sank on April 15th at 2:20 a.m.
Step 2

LEARN ABOUT THE SINKING

Most libraries have books about the RMS Titanic disaster, but there are also a plethora of outstanding free resources on the internet. (One is linked below to start you off.) You can also pay attention to your TV guide. Documentaries on the sinking are usually re-played during the month of April, but particularly during the anniversary week of the Titanic's sinking. Don't limit yourself to the Discovery or History channels. The Weather Channel, for instance, has a documentary on the Titanic sinking in its When Weather Changed History series.
Step 3

Boarding Pass from a Titanic Exhibit

APRIL 10TH - NOON

Titanic began her voyage across the Atlantic.

Today, try something new. Go out to eat at a new restaurant for lunch. Start a new hobby. Visit a local site of interest that you've been meaning to stop at, but in the hustle and bustle of every day life, you never have. Seize the day!
Step 4

Titanic at sea

APRIL 14TH - 9 A.M.

Iceberg warnings started arriving in the Titanic's wireless office. Some of these warnings made it to the bridge of the ship and the officers were aware of them. Some didn't. J. Bruce Ismay (the president of the White Star Line, which owned Titanic) stuffed one warning in his pocket and showed it to other passengers.

The Titanic received multiple warnings all day long. They knew ice was ahead.

What warnings have you been ignoring? If you haven't had your annual medical check up, pick up the phone TO schedule an appointment now. Ask your doctor about cholesterol screenings, mammograms or any other preventative test you may need.
Step 5

ON APRIL 14TH - DINNER TIME

If you're rich or middle class, have lamb in mint sauce for dinner.

If you're not rich...Unfortunately there are no surviving menus for third class passengers for April 14th, but the White Star Line (which owned the RMS Titanic) offered simple but hearty meals for third class. Think pot roast and potatoes.

Or you can host a dinner party featuring the last meal on the Titanic. Dana McCauley wrote an excellent book, Last Dinner On the Titanic: Menus and Recipes from the Great Liner, that's filled with recipes and dinner party ideas. See the resource link below for ordering information.
Step 6

APRIL 14TH - 11:00 P.M.

At approximately 11:00 p.m. on the night before the sinking, the wireless operator of the SS Californian, a ship generally believed to be 10-15 miles away (or closer), sent a message to the Titanic to warn her of ice that had stopped that ship -- ice directly in Titanic's path. The Titanic's wireless set had broken down earlier that day and the wireless operator, Jack Phillips, was diligently working to transmit the backlog of messages that had piled up. When the Californian's message interrupted him, Jack Phillips responded, "Shut up! Shut up! I am busy! I am working Cape Race!"

Write a letter or email to someone you've been horribly rude to. Apologize. Jack Phillips had every reason to be rude. He was tired and over-worked with a backlog of messages, but his rudeness cost he and another 1,522 victims dearly. The wireless operator of the Californian went to bed after Phillips cut him off. That operator wasn't listening when Titanic sent a distress call a little over an hour later.

We don't always get a second chance to say we're sorry. Remember that. Apologize to someone you've hurt or offended now.
Step 7

APRIL 14TH - BED TIME

Go to bed at your normal hour on April 14th, but set your alarm for 11:40 p.m. A lot of Titanic passengers were already asleep and were awakened when the ship struck the iceberg or by crew members. If you're usually asleep by 11:40 p.m. and are rudely awakened by your alarm, great! Now, you know how the passengers felt when they were awakened.

Can't wake up properly without coffee? I'm sure some of the passengers felt that way, too.

No coffee for you!

If you are normally bright-eyed and bushy-tailed at 11:40 p.m., you're still good. Many passengers and crew members hadn't gone to bed yet when the ship struck the iceberg. Pass the time until 11:40 p.m. as some of them did -- play cards.
Step 8

APRIL 14TH - 11:40 P.M.

Go outside.

Yes, in your pajamas if you're normally ready for bed by 11:40 p.m. A lot of passengers didn't get dressed before they left their staterooms. Some of them pulled on a coat over their pajamas. J. Bruce Ismay (the president of the White Star Line, which owned the RMS Titanic) was wearing an overcoat over his pajamas when he was rescued. Is it embarrassing to be caught outside wearing your pajamas? Now you know how those survivors felt.

Go outside even if it's cold. Naturally, you should exercise common sense. I don't recommend anyone risk hypothermia. Most Titanic victims didn't drown. They died of hypothermia, when the frigid waters of the North Atlantic lowered their body temperatures. So please, as always, safety first! A few minutes in the cold will give you some idea what it was like for Titanic passengers and crew members that night, though.

Is it kind of dark and spooky outside? It was kind of dark and spooky at 11:40 p.m. on April 14, 1912, too. Turn on your exterior lights and keep your inside lights on. The Titanic wasn't completely dark until later.
Step 9

APRIL 15TH - 12:15 A.M.

Titanic's first wireless message asking for help is sent. The first distress signals were CQD, but Phillips later changed to the newer distress call, SOS.

We all have trouble asking for help sometimes. Think about a project you've avoided because you need help. Resolve to ask for that help tomorrow. Begin your project. You may not get another chance.
Step 10

APRIL 15TH - 12:40 A.M.

Go outside again.

The first lifeboat, #7, was lowered at 12:40 a.m. with only 28 passengers inside. The lifeboat had a maximum capacity of 65.

Take a few minutes to consider all your wasted opportunities over the past year. Things you could have said. Things you wished you'd done.
Step 11

APRIL 15TH - 12:45 P.M.

While you're outside, if fireworks are legal in your state, light sparklers. If fireworks are illegal in your area, light a candle.

The Titanic fired its first distress rocket while passengers were being lowered in the first lifeboat to leave the ship.
Step 12

APRIL 15TH - 2:10 A.M.

Unplug your phone. Turn off your cell phone. Keep them off.

The last wireless message from the Titanic was sent at 2:10 a.m.
Step 13

APRIL 15TH - 2:18 A.M.

Turn off your lights and keep them off.

Titanic lost electricity at 2:18 a.m.
Step 14

Bob Ballard, who found the Titanic, with Titanic wreckage backdrop

APRIL 15TH - 2:20 A.M.

The ship founders.

Use these moments for a word of prayer or quiet reflection in remembrance of the 1,523 lives lost.
Step 15

Titanic lifeboats are picked up by the RMS Carpathia

APRIL 15TH - 8:10 A.M.

Turn your lights and phones back on.

The last lifeboat was picked up by the rescue ship, the RMS Carpathia, at 8:10 a.m.
Step 16

Death certificate of a victim of the Titanic disaster

HONORING THE VICTIMS

1,523 people lost their lives when the Titanic sank. You can remember each of those victims by praying for 26 minutes on April 15th at 2:20 a.m. (allowing for one second for each victim) or commit to praying 152.3 hours (approximately 3 hours every week) over the next year. Make yourself accountable by creating a log to keep track of your prayer time.

Donate $15.23, $152.30 or $1,523 to your favorite charity on April 15th.

Commit to 152.3 hours of volunteer service to your community this year (approximately 3 hours each week).

Donate 15.23 pounds of food to a local food pantry. Or organize a food drive in your neighborhood, your church or community to collect 152.3 or 1,523 pounds of food.