Looming tall over the steel yard, Ingalls’ pink crane stands as a visible reminder to those who have battled breast cancer. 

The Ohio rail crane was erected six years ago, built from the ground up using 36 pallets of parts, a pile of rusting steel and an engine purchased for the project.

While the effort to construct the crane saved Ingalls from spending upwards of $2 million on a new crane, it’s the color that the machinery was painted after being completed that makes it even more unique. 

A quarter of the 16-man Crane Maintenance Team – many of whom remain on the crew today – had a shared bond, a common thread tying them together that they wish they didn’t share. Four shipbuilders have close relatives who were diagnosed with breast cancer. 

Wanting to honor their loved ones and provide a visible reminder showing support for others who have been affected by breast cancer, the team chose to paint the crane pink.

That decision made six years ago continues to resonate with the Crane Maintenance Team after touch-ups were done on the paint job recently. 

For Steven Poellnitz, heavy equipment technician, it’s a reminder of his fiancée, who he shared three children with. She died from breast cancer when their children were 14, 15 and 16 years old.

“It was hard for me as a single parent to see them deal with her death,” Poellnitz said. “By painting the crane pink, we’re showing support for all families affected by breast cancer. We’re also supporting what the American Cancer Society does to promote early detection and new treatments to prevent tragedies like what my family endured.”

Steven Cazalas, half-hat heavy equipment technician, also lost the mother of his children to the disease. For him, the crane is a way to honor her and remind others about the impacts of the deadly disease.

“I wanted to do this for my daughters. They lost their mom at such a young age to this disease, and I don’t want to see others go through this,” said Cazalas. “I love being on a crew with others who have been affected by this disease. You can share a lot of your memories of hard times and comfort each other.”

For Josh Helton, heavy duty mechanic, seeing the pink crane each day when he comes to work is a reminder of his three aunts, one of whom died from breast cancer and two others who survived the disease.

“It’s our way of making people aware,” Helton said. 

Help Ingalls honor those who have lost their battle with breast cancer and aid in supporting patients, survivors and their families by signing up to participate in the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk. The walk will be held Saturday, Oct. 15, 2021, at the A.J. Holloway Sports Complex, located at 765 Wells Drive, Biloxi.

To sign up for the Ingalls Making Stride Against Breast Cancer team, click here: https://secure.acsevents.org/site/STR?fr_id=102835&pg=team&team_id=2638274