Several dozen friends, family members and supporters attended the blessing of the fleet on May 12 at the Wrangell Mariners' Memorial at Heritage Harbor, with more in attendance aboard their boats just offshore. A reading was led by Rev. Sue Bahleda and Don McConachie. Wrangell has held a springtime blessing of the fleet for decades, adding to the event in 2022 a solemn reading of the names of community members who have passed away and had their names engraved on commemorative plaques at the mariners' memorial. There are now almost 100 names enshrined at the site, which opened in 2022. "Each toll (of the bell) marks a life remembered and a story preserved," the memorial says.