Technology is a wonderful thing, and Saturday night, we watched history in the making thanks to how far we’ve advanced with technology in this day and age.

If you’ve been a fan of this page for long, you know of our love for the Morris Island Lighthouse.  Engineers got together with the help of SCE&G to delight all of the lovers of this lighthouse.  By pressing a button on their cell phone, this lighthouse lit up once again after being out of commission for many, many years.  Solar panels were placed on the lighthouse along with batteries to make this moment in history one we shall never forget as long as we live.

It has long been a dream of mine to walk the wrought iron steps of this magnificent lighthouse.  While that dream may not become a reality any time in the near future, I still hold on to it like so many others in attendance that night.

A rather large crowd gathered along the sandy shores to share in this moment in time.  A ceremony was held with various speakers from the Save The Light organization, to the mayor, as well as a grandmother who donated $250,000 in memory of her granddaughter who passed away in 2014 as a result of an automobile accident.  With music playing, the crowd took pictures, enjoyed a slice of cake celebrating the 140th birthday of the Morris Island Lighthouse, and waited anxiously for this beacon of light to come to life at exactly 7:30 p.m. Saturday night.  Sitting on the large rocks lining the beach with the waves crashing below our feet, we stared out across the ocean as a tiny light appeared at first and slowly turned toward us to reveal a beam of light that cut through the darkness.  As this beacon of light illuminated the night sky, we watched in amazement and wonder completely thrilled to be a part of this moment in history!

Sadly, the lighthouse only remained lit by solar power for four hours Saturday night.  That is the maximum allotted time the coast guard could give to this organization.  When we realized earlier in the week that it would not remain lit, we knew we had to do everything within our power to ensure we were among the crowd gathered for this event. My heart danced as I watched the light from this tall tower of hope.

Among those in attendance were a couple who got married at the top of the lighthouse in the 1980s.  They drove from Wilmington, North Carolina to be there for the lighting.   As I listened to the speaker talk of how they walked the steps and got married at the very top, I couldn’t help but wonder what the pictures must’ve looked like from back then.  Oh how I wish I could have seen a glimpse into the lighthouse when the steps were in much better shape to allow climbing to the very top.  I can only image the breathtaking view of the island from up there!

My mind quickly shifted to the lady before me in the wheelchair.  With her white hair blowing with the slight breeze coming off of the ocean, the gentleman attempted to push her through the white sand that seemed to match her hair.  I was extremely impressed when the gentleman finally spoke and said she was 95 years old.  It was her heart’s desire to be present for this event, and she was well pleased as evident by the smile stretched across her thin, pale lips.

How meaningful this night was for so many of us, and it is one I’ll never forget.  It provided hope for all that one day this lighthouse will be preserved and restored completely.