By Maurene on Nov 26, 2009 | Reply

On November 29, 1960, Chief John F. Kennedy, U.S.C.G. of Fletchers Neck Life Saving Station, along with his engine man Kenneth Rouleau, and the rest of his Coast Guard crew, rescued Tammy Burnham, a 2-1/2 year old light keeper’s daughter at Wood Island Lighthouse, Maine. The men aboard the 30 foot lifeboat saved that little girl’s life that night. Much has been marketed about the rescue in regards to “preserving the history of Wood Island Lighthouse”. John F. Kennedy and Kenneth Rouleau have much to share about the history of the rescue. Both of these Coast Guard veterans are interested in sharing the interesting facts surrounding the story. It would be great if Senator Collins of Maine, who was instrumental in helping American Lighthouse Foundation and Friends Of Wood Island Lighthouse obtain a share of a $380,000.00 grant to preserve Wood Island Lighthouse history, would meet with these veterans and listen to their heroic tale. I too was there that night and I remember it well!

By Margo Alley on Dec 9, 2009 | Reply

Margo Alley says:
A Public Statement issued 11/20/09 by Margo Alley, author of Wood Island Lighthouse – The Rescue of Tammy Burnham (2007):

It has been brought to my attention that Maurene Kennedy of Waterford, CT has made numerous public allegations questioning the veracity of my book. I am neither compelled nor inclined to respond point by point to her statements, which I find factually baseless, disparaging and libelous. I stand 100% behind the facts, accounts and details depicted in the book. These same facts and accounts were verified and upheld by an investigation of the U.S. Coast Guard which was concluded August 1992.
As to my motivation for authoring and publishing the book: my intention was to research and reveal the truth of a controversial set of events which culminated in the brave rescue of a little girl at sea. The facts of that evening clearly support a cover-up which remained unchallenged for over thirty years. I am proud of both the results of my investigation and the public acknowledgement by the U.S. Coast Guard recognizing the heroic actions of Seaman Apprentice Edward Syvinski, EN First Class Laurier Burnham and Biddeford Pool lobsterman Preston Alley, all of whom received commendations.

FACT FINDING 5 Dec 09
By Margo Alley

John F. Kennedy contacted Timothy S. Sullivan, Com. 1st. District USCG on 16 Oct 2007 by letter requesting the matter of Tammy’s rescue be reopened and reinvestigated. I retain a copy of this letter in my very large research file of Tammy Burnham’s rescue material. I think Maurene Kennedy should post the response to that letter her father wrote as I am certain that it has been answered by now over two years later.

The USCG an organization that Maurene Kennedy claims to love and honor so deeply is the same organization she trashes and accuses of conducting an incomplete or flawed investigation.
Kristopher Furtney, the USCG investigator relayed to Maurene Kennedy during an informal telephone conversation that she initiated that if she was unhappy with his investigation she could contact the Master Chief Petty Officer of the USCG. But then again, that was whom John F. Kennedy had already contacted on 16 Oct of 2007 by letter addressed to Timothy S. Sullivan Com. 1st District 408 Atlantic Ave. Boston, MA 02110-3350. So exactly what was the response to that request?

You cannot change history, even when you are in disagreement with the cold hard facts of any event. The fact remains that a transport turned rescue was covered up in 1960. The reasons that happened are numerous and well recorded in the records and stacks of research I have compiled over many years of working on this historical documentation and my research does not come from newspaper articles, it comes from DOCUMENTED COLD HARD FACTS. And yes, there still are those that were first hand witness to this event that have first hand knowledge and were directly involved. Unfortunately for Kennedy she chooses not to believe anyone unless they are in agreement with her father’s version, which I have also thoroughly researched and found simply not believable or credible in my opinion. Kennedy nonetheless is entitled to her opinion just as anyone else is. She has stated she is writing a book about the rescue and that is her call but I absolutely refuse to supply her with any of my research no matter how many times she publicly challenges me to do so!

Second Public Statement from Margo Alley
Regarding Maurene Kennedy
06 Dec 09

I hereby inform all readers that Maurene Kennedy of Waterford, CT has escalated her ill-advised, acrimonious and illegal campaign against me and my book, Wood Island Lighthouse – The Rescue of Tammy Burnham.

Recently she called Charles Garnache who is a fellow author and long-time close family friend of mine. Mr. Garnache, who is in his 80s and still lobsters out of Biddeford Pool, is a highly-respected writer and well-known local gentleman.

Ms. Kennedy contacted Mr. Garnache via telephone and misrepresented herself as a person interested in possibly purchasing both his books and my own. Before Mr. Garnache realized that she was not being honest with him, he had happily given her my private cell-phone number, believing that she wanted to purchase our books. She spoke to him for some time before revealing other, ulterior motives besides purchasing books. As their conversation continued, Mr. Garnache grew increasingly suspicious of the nature of the personal questions Kennedy asked him concerning myself and my book. Realizing that he had, in fact, been duped by Kennedy, Mr. Garnache immediately contacted me and gave me a full account, which was thoroughly documented and reported to the appropriate local authorities.

While I would prefer this to be a private legal matter, Ms. Kennedy’s disturbing pattern of unethical and violative behavior compels me to alert my family, friends, readers and general public to her actions. While each of us are entitled to our opinions of any published literary work, Maurene Kennedy continues to publicly and vociferously impugn both my name and my professional integrity.

As stated previously, I stand 100% behind the facts and accounts of the daring rescue of Tammy Burnham on November 29, 1960 as detailed in my book. Despite Kennedy’s allegations to the contrary, documentation of the investigation by the United States Coast Guard fully support the historical accuracy of my research and reporting.

Maurene Kennedy’s continuing disparagement, libel and public defamation of both my work and my character constitute the grounds for legal action, which I have already undertaken. I hereby ask that anyone receiving suspect communication from Ms. Kennedy regarding my personal or professional business please contact me immediately so that I can forward this information to the proper authorities.

I regret any inconvenience and wish to thank my faithful and loyal family, friends and readers for supporting me during this difficult and unnecessary debacle.

Sincerely,
Margo Alley
Author of Wood Island Lighthouse – The Rescue of Tammy Burnham.
Second Public Statement from Margo Alley
Regarding Maurene Kennedy
06 Dec 09

I hereby inform all readers that Maurene Kennedy of Waterford, CT has escalated her ill-advised, acrimonious and illegal campaign against me and my book, Wood Island Lighthouse – The Rescue of Tammy Burnham.

Recently she called Charles Garnache who is a fellow author and long-time close family friend of mine. Mr. Garnache, who is in his 80s and still lobsters out of Biddeford Pool, is a highly-respected writer and well-known local gentleman.

Ms. Kennedy contacted Mr. Garnache via telephone and misrepresented herself as a person interested in possibly purchasing both his books and my own. Before Mr. Garnache realized that she was not being honest with him, he had happily given her my private cell-phone number, believing that she wanted to purchase our books. She spoke to him for some time before revealing other, ulterior motives besides purchasing books. As their conversation continued, Mr. Garnache grew increasingly suspicious of the nature of the personal questions Kennedy asked him concerning myself and my book. Realizing that he had, in fact, been duped by Kennedy, Mr. Garnache immediately contacted me and gave me a full account, which was thoroughly documented and reported to the appropriate local authorities.

While I would prefer this to be a private legal matter, Ms. Kennedy’s disturbing pattern of unethical and violative behavior compels me to alert my family, friends, readers and general public to her actions. While each of us are entitled to our opinions of any published literary work, Maurene Kennedy continues to publicly and vociferously impugn both my name and my professional integrity.

As stated previously, I stand 100% behind the facts and accounts of the daring rescue of Tammy Burnham on November 29, 1960 as detailed in my book. Despite Kennedy’s allegations to the contrary, documentation of the investigation by the United States Coast Guard fully support the historical accuracy of my research and reporting.

Maurene Kennedy’s continuing disparagement, libel and public defamation of both my work and my character constitute the grounds for legal action, which I have already undertaken. I hereby ask that anyone receiving suspect communication from Ms. Kennedy regarding my personal or professional business please contact me immediately so that I can forward this information to the proper authorities.

I regret any inconvenience and wish to thank my faithful and loyal family, friends and readers for supporting me during this difficult and unnecessary debacle.

Sincerely,
Margo Alley
Author of Wood Island Lighthouse – The Rescue of Tammy Burnham.

By Maurene on Dec 27, 2009 | Reply

Please remove the inappropriate and completely unfounded comments about me that have been posted to your site by Margo Alley. I have forwarded the site to my attorney and let him know that I have requested that you take action to remove the offensive comments as soon as possible.
Maurene Kennedy

By Lily Burnham on Mar 22, 2010 | Reply

A PUBLIC STATEMENT
By Lily Burnham
March 22, 2010

On November 29, 1960, our two and a half year old daughter Tammy Burnham and Seaman Edward Syvinski were given up for “lost at sea” by USCG Chief John F. Kennedy of the U.S. Coast Guard Station at Biddeford Pool, Maine.
While attempting to transport our very ill daughter to the mainland, the skiff Kennedy commandeered capsized in the fog, rain and heavy seas. When Kennedy’s relayed message to the island was “We will look for the bodies in the morning,” my husband Laurier determined to find our daughter notified Chief John F. Kennedy that he would use his peapod boat in an effort to find them and Kennedy threatened to court martial him if he left his post. My husband did eventually find our daughter and Seaman Edward Syvinski with no thanks to Kennedy who had sent his own seaman out without so much as a life jacket.
Today, forty-nine years later Maurene Kennedy, daughter of former chief John Kennedy, has sought to disprove the true facts backed up by a thorough USCG investigation surrounding the rescue of our daughter Tammy and the cover-up of events that evening, with her own fabricated version of it. Please disregard her efforts to obtain recognition for her father based on false testimony.
For anyone who is interested in the true story of my daughters’ rescue that is nothing short of a miracle the book Wood Island Lighthouse: The Rescue of Tammy Burnham, by Margo Alley is available from www.biddefordpoolmaine.com
The book is the true and accurate accounting of exactly what happened from first hand eyewitness’s that were present on that dreadful evening, including myself.
Signed,
Lily Burnham

By Maurene on Mar 23, 2010 | Reply

The facts regarding the rescue of Tammy Burnham at Wood Island Lighthouse can be found at:

Wood Island Lighthouse The USCG Rescue Of Tammy Burnham
web.mac.com/maurenekennedy/iweb/

By Margo Alley on Mar 24, 2010 | Reply

Those who threaten others on a public forum lack overall integrity.

By Maurene on Mar 24, 2010 | Reply

Ms. Clark I understand that everyone has a right to their opinion. Margo Alley has posted outright lies about me to your site in her many, lengthy, public statements that go far beyond opinion. A simple internet search would reveal the facts about her claims against me. I understand that she feels threatened by my making the facts about the rescue of Tammy Burnham available to the public because she self-published an unsubstantiated and undocumented story regarding the event, in 2007. That does not give her the right to libel me on your site. My work is about my commitment to the USCG veterans who saved Tammy, and who are still with us. We seek only to have the official USCG record reflect the facts.

By Maurene on Mar 24, 2010 | Reply

The post that appears to be by Lily Burnham dated March 22, 2010, has been posted to other public forums by Margo Alley, on the same day it was posted on this one. It is written in the exact same style as all of Margo Alley’s other “Public Statements”. It even ends with a plug for her self-published book. It is unfortunate that Alley does not recognize the damage she is doing to any slim chance she may have had for credibility as an author of self-published works.

By Margo Alley on Mar 24, 2010 | Reply

As I have stated before, my book, Wood Island Lighthouse The Rescue of Tammy Burnham by Margo Alley was written from expert first hand eyewitness accounts of the people that were directly involved in rescuing Tammy.
Need I remind you,Ms. Kennedy that your father former chief John Kennedy was not the one that spent approximately 75 minutes in the freezing water fighting to hold onto Tammy Burnham and fighting to save her life, Edward Syvinski did that. In fact, your father John Kennedy and his engineman were snug on the 30 footer and in no danger of drowning or dying as Seaman Edward Syvinski was, Seaman Raymond Bill was and as Tammy’s own father Laurier Burnham was¾not to mention what could have happened to my grandfather because your father led his men poorly the night of November 29, 1960. Unworthy tiny wooden skiff and no life jackets just to mention a few details.
You were not there Ms. Kennedy unless you were hiding on the 30-footer taking notes for your investigation? For you to insinuate that you know more about this rescue than Mrs. Burnham does is in my opinion, nothing short of ignorant. Mrs. Burnham, a married adult and mother of Tammy was there, no matter how much you want to think she wasn’t. How old were you, four or five possibly? A loving and caring mother would never forget the facts of such a horrific night when her own dear child was left for dead in Wood Island Harbor.
Your fruitless “investigation” is of absolutely no threat to me at all. As a matter of fact, that statement in itself would be hilarious if it weren’t so truly sad. I reviewed the interview from your father and the engineman of their version of the rescue long before I wrote my book but unfortunately in my opinion it was just not believable and I do not write of things I feel are not totally one hundred percent honest.
Tammy Burnham’s rescue is a part of history that is well documented and my “self published book” as you are so fond of calling it, has been and continues to be distributed all around the world as do many other items related to Tammy’s rescue. In fact, you have boosted my sales with your antics and attempts to clear your father’s name. Not to mention, you have purchased three copies of my “self published” book yourself! Unfortunately you don’t appear to understand much about the self-publishing world, but you might do an Internet search and educate yourself about it. The standards an author follows are the same as with any other publishing company.
My book isn’t going away and no one has anything to apologize for and in my humble opinion, you are wasting your time with this. It is what it is, the facts have been proven and it’s recorded and documented HISTORY, I really don’t know how to be any clearer other than suggesting you probably should find a way to deal with it. This book will not be the only one that I write having reference to the rescue of Tammy Burnham. And who knows, maybe Lily Burnham will write one also.
I would advise you to take all of your facts and self appointed investigation results and present that to the United States Coast Guard, as they are the only one with the power to help you. But of course and you and you’re father have already done that numerous times all to no avail. So it appears no one is listening to you though I think possibly on line some people may find this entertaining at times.
Unfortunately, you appear in my opinion to NEED an audience and as of now, as far as I’m concerned, you no longer have one. Do have a wonderful day.
www.biddefordpoolmaine.com

By Maurene on Mar 24, 2010 | Reply

John F. Kennedy OIC USCG Fletcher’s Neck Life Saving station, never gave up anyone for dead. No one was in the water for 75 minutes. The water was not at freezing temperatures. Margo Alley’s grandfather Preston Alley, was not involved in the rescue. Chief Kennedy had many years of experience at sea, (serving in the Navy prior to serving in the USCG), including experiencing three tsunamis in the Pacific. Long before Kennedy took command in Biddeford, ME, he was decorated for his bravery and leadership. Chief Kennedy did relay a message from the 30 ft lifeboat through Fletcher’s Neck, to Laurier Burnham on Wood Island. The message did not state, “We will look for the bodies in the morning”, Kennedy had already located Tammy and Syvinski with the searchlight on the 30 ft lifeboat. Lily Burnham could not have been a first hand, eyewitness to the events of the rescue, she was recovering from back surgery and could not stand or walk, and most likely was heavily medicated. Kennedy had relayed to Laurier Burnham his order for Burnham to launch the peapod and pick up Tammy and Syvinski on Negro Island. Laurier Burnham launched the peapod, met the 30 ft lifeboat, Kennedy showed him with the searchlight where Tammy and Syvinski were on Negro Island, saying, “There’s your girl, now go and get her.” Lifejackets were provided to the Seamen as standard procedure on board the lifeboat #30414. The Kennedy family is committed to making the facts available to the public. A fabrication has been marketed to the public, by individuals, and the organizations they are, or have been affiliated with. They hold up Lt. Kristopher Furtney’s 1992 investigation, (begun decades after the actual rescue, November 29, 1960, at the behest of the Burnham’s, seeking recognition and medals for family and friends, after reading about the restoration plans for Wood Island Light), as proof of their claims. Furtney’s report, by his own admission, was flawed. We are not seeking medals for the veterans who rescued Tammy, we are not selling books or asking for grants to save a lighthouse. We seek a reflection of the facts in the USCG record of the rescue, including the first hand, expert eyewitness testimony of John F. Kennedy BMC USCG Retired and Kenneth Realue EN3 USCG Retired, the men who, with USCG Seamen Raymond Bill and Edward Syvinski, saved that little girl’s life. Alley makes many assumptions, then she makes statements based on those assumptions as if the assumptions were fact. Alley can’t possibly know what my father and I are doing regarding our contact with the USCG. Documentation and supporting material from primary sources may be viewed at:
Wood Island Lighthouse The USCG Rescue Of Tammy Burnham
web.mac.com/maurenekennedy/iweb/

By Lily Burnham on Mar 24, 2010 | Reply

A PUBLIC STATEMENT
By Lily Burnham
March 22, 2010

On November 29, 1960, our two and a half year old daughter Tammy Burnham and Seaman Edward Syvinski were given up for “lost at sea” by USCG Chief John F. Kennedy of the U.S. Coast Guard Station at Biddeford Pool, Maine.
While attempting to transport our very ill daughter to the mainland, the skiff Kennedy commandeered capsized in the fog, rain and heavy seas. When Kennedy’s relayed message to the island was “We will look for the bodies in the morning,” my husband Laurier determined to find our daughter notified Chief John F. Kennedy that he would use his peapod boat in an effort to find them and Kennedy threatened to court martial him if he left his post. My husband did eventually find our daughter and Seaman Edward Syvinski with no thanks to Kennedy who had sent his own seaman out without so much as a life jacket.
Today, forty-nine years later Maurene Kennedy, daughter of former chief John Kennedy, has sought to disprove the true facts backed up by a thorough USCG investigation surrounding the rescue of our daughter Tammy and the cover-up of events that evening, with her own fabricated version of it. Please disregard her efforts to obtain recognition for her father based on false testimony.
For anyone who is interested in the true story of my daughters’ rescue that is nothing short of a miracle the book Wood Island Lighthouse: The Rescue of Tammy Burnham, by Margo Alley is available from www.biddefordpoolmaine.com
The book is the true and accurate accounting of exactly what happened from first hand eyewitness’s that were present on that dreadful evening, including myself.
Signed,
Lily Burnham

By Lily Burnham on Mar 24, 2010 | Reply

As I have stated before, my book, Wood Island Lighthouse The Rescue of Tammy Burnham by Margo Alley was written from expert first hand eyewitness accounts of the people that were directly involved in rescuing Tammy.
Need I remind you,Ms. Kennedy that your father former chief John Kennedy was not the one that spent approximately 75 minutes in the freezing water fighting to hold onto Tammy Burnham and fighting to save her life, Edward Syvinski did that. In fact, your father John Kennedy and his engineman were snug on the 30 footer and in no danger of drowning or dying as Seaman Edward Syvinski was, Seaman Raymond Bill was and as Tammy’s own father Laurier Burnham was¾not to mention what could have happened to my grandfather because your father led his men poorly the night of November 29, 1960. Unworthy tiny wooden skiff and no life jackets just to mention a few details.
You were not there Ms. Kennedy unless you were hiding on the 30-footer taking notes for your investigation? For you to insinuate that you know more about this rescue than Mrs. Burnham does is in my opinion, nothing short of ignorant. Mrs. Burnham, a married adult and mother of Tammy was there, no matter how much you want to think she wasn’t. How old were you, four or five possibly? A loving and caring mother would never forget the facts of such a horrific night when her own dear child was left for dead in Wood Island Harbor.
Your fruitless “investigation” is of absolutely no threat to me at all. As a matter of fact, that statement in itself would be hilarious if it weren’t so truly sad. I reviewed the interview from your father and the engineman of their version of the rescue long before I wrote my book but unfortunately in my opinion it was just not believable and I do not write of things I feel are not totally one hundred percent honest.
Tammy Burnham’s rescue is a part of history that is well documented and my “self published book” as you are so fond of calling it, has been and continues to be distributed all around the world as do many other items related to Tammy’s rescue. In fact, you have boosted my sales with your antics and attempts to clear your father’s name. Not to mention, you have purchased three copies of my “self published” book yourself! Unfortunately you don’t appear to understand much about the self-publishing world, but you might do an Internet search and educate yourself about it. The standards an author follows are the same as with any other publishing company.
My book isn’t going away and no one has anything to apologize for and in my humble opinion, you are wasting your time with this. It is what it is, the facts have been proven and it’s recorded and documented HISTORY, I really don’t know how to be any clearer other than suggesting you probably should find a way to deal with it. This book will not be the only one that I write having reference to the rescue of Tammy Burnham. And who knows, maybe Lily Burnham will write one also.
I would advise you to take all of your facts and self appointed investigation results and present that to the United States Coast Guard, as they are the only one with the power to help you. But of course and you and you’re father have already done that numerous times all to no avail. So it appears no one is listening to you though I think possibly on line some people may find this entertaining at times.
Unfortunately, you appear in my opinion to NEED an audience and as of now, as far as I’m concerned, you no longer have one. Do have a wonderful day.
www.biddefordpoolmaine.com

By Margo Alley on Apr 12, 2010 | Reply

The USCG has responded to demands to reopen the 1992 investigation of Tammy Burnham’s rescue from the waters of Wood Island Harbor on November 29, 1960.
After thorough considerations the USCG has determined that the investigation Lt. Kristopher Furtney conducted in 1992 was sufficient and reinvestigating the rescue would serve no benefit to the public.
www.flickr.com/photos/biddefordpoolhistorian/4473920294/