Mayor, City Council sign proclamation to declare Oct. 1, 2018, ‘El Faro 33 Memorial Day'

Three years ago today, the freight ship SS El Faro left Jacksonville and headed to San Juan, Puerto Rico for its weekly round trip.

On Oct. 1, 2015, the 33-person crew came up against Hurricane Joaquin and never made it back to shore.

MORE ON EL FARO: El Faro sinking

Action News Jax reporter Courtney Cole shares the story of a father who lost his son aboard the shipv and how Jacksonville city leaders plan to honor the crew members.

It was the evening of September 30th, 2015 when Pastor Robert L. Green says he and his wife received a phone call that changed everything.

"It was actually a notification letting us know they lost communication with the ship,” said Green.

Gallery: Honoring the El Faro victims three years after sinking

Green said at that point, it was unknown if it was because of the storm or something else.

"What I can remember is my wife just sinking and falling down into the chair that was beside the door we went into and handing me the phone. It’s a moment we’ll never forget,” Green said.

Twelve unnerving hours later, he said he learned Hurricane Joaquin overtook the freight ship, claiming the lives of all 33 people on board.

Seventeen of the mariners were from Jacksonville.

Green’s son, Lashawn Rivera, was the chief cook on the ship.

STORY: El Faro-inspired maritime safety bill passed by the Senate

“He actually found his niche in life, and one of those things was cooking. The other was being a mariner. He loved what he did,” said Green.

Mayor Lenny Curry signed a proclamation to commemorate the lives of the 33 aboard the El Faro. He also plans to officially declare Monday, Oct. 1, 2018, as El Faro 33 Memorial Day.

Green says he believes the sacrifice of mariners too often gets overlooked, so he's grateful for the recognition being given to the crew of the El Faro.

“We just pray that God is holding them in his everlasting arms and that all the families will be well,” said Green.

Dames Point Park was renamed in honor of the El Faro 33 in 2016.

Family members of an El Faro crew member also dedicated a fountain in Evergreen Cemetery in honor of the crew.

Cox Media Group