Annual Blessing of the Fleet Is Reminder of Watermen’s Perilous Work By James Ritch - May 3, 2022 0 253 Members of Coast Guard Station Cape Charles present colors at the beginning of the Blessing of the Fleet ceremony. Photos by Jim Ritch – 2022 Blessing of the Fleet 1 of 7 Ed Lewis, right, hugs his wife, Sandra, in front of the Virginia Waterman’s Memorial. Lewis returned to his native Cape Charles from Chesapeake, VA, to solicit funds for the memorial. Members of Painter Flotilla 12-02 prepare for the Blessing of the Fleet in Cape Charles Friday. From left are Tricia Reduble, of Belle Haven; Ben Cavileer, of Belle Haven; Seymour Bradley, of Cape Charles; and John Evans, of Cape Charles. Cape Charles Mayor Smitty Dize, second from right, honors local watermen for their work. From left are Tim Wivell, of Cape Charles; Scott Wivell, of Cape Charles; Wayne Hudgins, of Matthews, VA; Don Crockett, of Tangier Island; Mayor Dize; and Kenny Heath, of Cape Charles. As a crowd watches from the dock at the Shanty Restaurant, Ben Cavileer and Tricia Reduble, from left, of Belle Haven, prepare to haul a memorial wreath into the Chesapeake Bay. Cavileer and Reduble are members of Painter Flotilla 12-02. Cape Charles Police Chief Jim Pruitt folds his hearing protectors after firing the small cannon in the bottom left corner of the photo. Congresswoman Elaine Luria, chats with Jon Dempster, owner of the Shanty Restaurant and proponent of the Virginia Waterman’s Memorial. Celebrating after the ceremony are from left, Mark and Rosemary Riddle, Seyi Adegoroye, Deb Facciolli, and Pat and Joanne Bevins. All reside in Cape Charles.