The Blessing of the Fleet; Juneau, May 4, 2019
In a moving ceremony attended by several hundred people, the commercial fishing fleet was blessed and the names of now-gone commercial fishers was read on the Juneau waterfront. Commercial fishing is a dangerous way to earn a living, but it is also a way of life and many who pursue it aren't interested in doing something else.
A gallery of photos covers the event more thoroughly: https://www.zenfolio.com/bobeastaughimagery/p1056304229
The images below give a flavor of the scene.
Girl Scouts passed out flowers to be thrown into the water.
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While an eagle watched, the Coast Guard color guard marched, the names of deceased fishers were read, the mayor (from a commercial fishing family) spoke.
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Families and friends held (and threw) the flowers, a memorial wreath was dropped into the harbor, pipers and drummers played, somberly.
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Fishing boats filed through the inner harbor to be blessed.
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The wreath drifted, thrown flowers arranged themselves.
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Dogs and children were well behaved.
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People searched for names. Spectators drifted out, somberly.
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After a lifetime of mainly expressing myself with words, my postings here will mainly rely on images. They will speak for themselves to some extent, but I'll usually add a few comments of explanation. I've taken photographs for decades, since the 1950's, inspired in part by my father's photographic skill. Four years of photo assignments and quality darkroom time eventually gave way to decades of casual and family picture-taking. I re-immersed myself when I left film and turned to digital.