The spring departure of the local fishing fleet is approaching, and this Sunday, they’ll be honored in the 91st annual Blessing of the Fleet.
The blessing will be on March 17 at 2pm at the Fishermen’s Memorial site at the terminal.
The tradition was started 91 years ago by the late Pastor O.L. Haavik of Ballard First Lutheran Church. Now, it’s led by First Lutheran Pastors Erik R. Wilson Weiberg and Elise Scott. In the ceremony, they’ll offer thanks for the fishing community, “remember the risks they take each day to provide seafood for our tables,” the church writes in the event info.
“We will also pray that their families will be healthy and protected during their time of separation. We will remember those who went out to sea and never returned.”
The North Pacific Fishing Fleet will be represented by “The Admiral” owner Tom Meiners during the ceremony.
The Blessing of the Fleet is free and open to the public — coffee and cookies will be available after the service.
Photo from the 2018 Blessing of the Fleet, from First Lutheran’s Facebook page