BILOXI – Let there be light.

After a 14-month, $400,000 restoration that was primarily funded by FEMA and completed by Biloxi contractor J.O. Collins, the Biloxi Lighthouse is shining bright and standing taller than ever.

The 65-ft structure was re-dedicated and re-lit on February 19.

Bishop Roger Morin delivered the opening prayer.

“Lord, from the beginning of time, in creation of the world, you declared: ‘Let there be light!’ Light dispels darkness and light shows us the way to safely complete a journey. Light allows us to set our eyes on the prize and to persevere in the hope of achievement,” Bishop Morin prayed.

“We are grateful, Lord, that this lighthouse will stand as a radiant sign of renewal. Let this light shine brightly over our community as a ‘Beacon of Hope’ for our residents and a signal of welcome to all who visit here. Inspire us, Lord, and remind us that we are called to be people of light shining brightly with our own halo of good works.”

Greg Crapo, director of Catholic Charities, did not receive a halo for his good works, but was honored by Mayor A.J. Holloway with a certificate for donating an American flag that flew from the lighthouse following Hurricane Katrina.

On the night as Katrina was moving on, Vincent Creel and Ronnie Cochran from the City of Biloxi came walking up to my house about 10 pm.  They had seen our furniture store, Merchiston Hall, was pretty much destroyed, but the 8 x 12 flag we had flying from the second story was still there,” said Crapo.

“I had actually gone down earlier that evening with Peter Stephens and got the flag out from the rubble and had it flying again.  Anyway, they asked if they could take it for the lighthouse.  I knew it would probably be stolen, so I told them to get it that night.  They did and it flew for well over a year before becoming so tattered that it needed to be replaced.  I asked for it back and they graciously returned it to me.  It has been held since that time in a safe place with the intention of having it framed along with a photo of it flying and then our family will re-present it back to the City for public display.”

Crapo said he is impressed with the newly refurbished lighthouse.

“They did a fabulous job on that structure.  It hasn’t looked that good in my lifetime,” he said.  “The crowds to visit it Saturday were non-stop and the line never ended.

What better symbol for us, with what we have been through, than a lighthouse that is a beacon to bring people in need, home safely.”