Pastor Sue Bahleda, of Island of Faith Lutheran Church, helped represent the Wrangell Ministerial Association at last Sunday's blessing of the fleet at the Wrangell Mariners' Memorial. "Be safe, be strong, be fruitful this day and every day," she said in her blessing.
Community members, local organizations and mariners gathered together at the Wrangell Mariners' Memorial last Sunday afternoon for a blessing of the fleet. The blessing is a tradition in seaside towns around the world, praying for safety and bountiful harvests as fishing fleets begin heading out for the season.
The blessing is a longstanding tradition for Wrangell, said Jenn Miller-Yancey, with the mariners' memorial board, but recent events have become more collaborative.
"I don't know how long a tradition the blessing of the fleet has been, I know different churches took turns in the past," she said. "Wrangell Ministerial Association now has come together, along with the Wrangell Mariners' Memorial board, to bring the blessing of the fleet, hopefully, annually out here at the site."
There was no blessing last year, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Miller-Yancey said she was happy to bring the event back this year, and thankful to the community for coming out in support.
The blessing itself only took a few minutes. The ceremony opened with "The Star-Spangled Banner," sung by Abby Gerald. Pastor Sue Bahleda, with Island of Faith Lutheran Church, gave the blessing. Pastor Brad Traxler, with the Seventh-day Adventist Church, offered a prayer.
The ceremony was brought to a close by Madeline Davies, of Stikine Middle School, who read the poem, "If You've Ever Lived on an Island."
About seven boats pulled out of their slips to line up outside of Heritage Harbor during the blessing.
"May your crafts be strong and stable, may your crews be strong and able, may the seas be good and fair, may your nets be full, may you be safe, may you be abundant," Bahleda said in her blessing.
"We give you thanks for these crafts, and their crews. We remember, too, all other vessels on the sea: The pleasure crafts, the harbor crafts, the cruises and sightseeing crafts. On this day we give particular thanks and blessing for the Coast Guard crafts who continue to guide us, to guard us, to save us and protect us. We give you thanks for all of these things, and we bless these crafts and their crews in their work, in their play, in their days and their nights. Be safe, be strong, be fruitful this day and every day."
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