Keeper James Charlet will be autographing and personalizing copies of his best-selling book, Shipwrecks of the Outer Banks: Dramatic Rescues and Fantastic Wrecks in the Graveyard of the Atlantic, Globe Pequot Press. Keeper James says, “My publishers choose this title. In spite of the ‘headline-Shipwrecks-print,’ the stories are much more about the dramatic rescues by the surfmen of the United States Life-Saving Service.”
The book is being sole world-wide, and the first run has sold out. It is now being printed on-demand until the paperback edition comes out. Then, the hardback will be discontinued “and I think it will become collectable,” Keeper James says.
The United States Life-Saving Service is one of the least-known yet most inspirational aspects in all of American history. It operated on all of America’s coasts from 1871 until 1915. In that year, it was merged with the U.S. Revenue Cutter Service (born 1790) and renamed the United States Coast Guard! But the singular mission of the Life-Saving Service was saving lives in peril of the sea. During their 44-year history, nationwide, using no more than small, open, wooden boats and cork life belts, most often in violent and dangerous storms, they responded to over 178,000 lives in peril from shipwrecks…of which they saved, OVER 177,000; yet, somehow, America forgot these peaceful heroes. Keeper James continues, “My mission and my passion is to not let America forget about this incredible history of real heroes. That is what my book is all about. And this is just the first!”
The event is at the Island Convenience store in Rodanthe on Wednesday, November 23 for 1:00 to 3:00. The store is the first stop on the right after the roundabout ending the Rodanthe Bridge coming in from the north and is labeled with “Liberty” gas pumps. Conversely, Island Convenience store is the last on the left just before the bridge’s roundabout.
Coincidently, the RWS Civic Association is hosting a Pie Sale on Wednesday, November 23, from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. at the Community Building in Rodanthe. “That is adjacent to the Island Convenience store, just a few feet to the south. After getting your pie, come get a book. Besides, Island Convenience has everything else you could want, so it is a great stop!” Charlet concludes. “I can do this because I live close by, and these are wonderful people. Hope to see you there.”
Keeper James Presentations TM is a series of live programs presented by local historians, historic interpreters and performers Keeper James Charlet and Linda Molloy. Each program about the U.S. Life-Saving Service consists of appetizers of true, exciting, highly dramatic Outer Banks stories of ‘America’s Forgotten Heroes.’ For more information, see www.KeeperJames.com/programs.
