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| "Won't you join us
this year for this time honored family tradition?" Getting
an entry form is
easy just click
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KEMAH TX - Ralph Yarborough, BOF Parade Chairman
Asks, "won't you join us this year for this time honored family tradition?" Getting an entry form is easy - just click above or call me 281-334-1106
or Email Ralph@underwaterinc.com you may also call Claire Worthington
at 281-334-2303, or Gene
Rutt, Kemah Boardwalk Marina
555 Bradford Street, Kemah 281-334-2284. See you there for this
great spectator Event!
Sponsorship
Opportunities: Company Name On Website Link if desired For more information on
these sponsor opportunities call Claire at (281) 334-2303 or email
us at KemahNetInfo@Houston.rr.com Your contributions back the Blessing of the Fleet publicity and advertising committee activities.
Date: Sunday, August 3,2003
Boat Line Up: 1:00PM (in Clear Lake)
Parade Starts: 2:00PM
Awards Ceremony: 4:30PM IN THE PLAZA KEMAH (BOARDWALK BAND STAND)
Location: OF JUDGES and CLERGY Cadillac Authentic Mexican Restaurant Deck
This years Blessing emphasizes our responsibility for one
another and our inter linked fates on Clear Lake and Galveston Bay!
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"Our
prayer for this Blessing is that every pleasure/charter/
brokerage boat in every marina
in Bay Area Houston will join with the commercial fishing boats this year in the huge
celebration marking the 35th Anniversary of the Annual Blessing of the Fleet."
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"Seaweed" Captained by Mike Johnson 1st place under 40'
2002 Blessing of the Fleet with 2 US Marines on the bough. (Hoo-yah!)
KEMAH,
TX. On Sunday, August 3, 2003, the 35th Annual Ceremonial Blessing of
the Fleet is scheduled to transform Galveston Bay at the Kemah Bridge from
just a busy sun dappled paradise into the lavish traditional parade of shrimpers,
the yacht crowd, day sailors and thousands of dock watchers - a day unlike
any other in the Bay Area. The annual celebration of the opening of the big
net Shrimping Season that include the centuries old tradition of a
maritime parade: the festively decorated shrimp boats,
pleasure craft of all shapes and sizes festooned with every color of ribbons,
sailing banners, flowers. One by one parade
passed the Cadillac Authentic Mexican Restaurant on the Kemah Boardwalk,
where each boat will receive a Blessing from both the officiating Priest
and Minister. Every boat is welcome, every mariner encouraged to participate
- no decoration is required to parade
by to receive the Ceremonial Blessing.
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Capt.
Wally's Really Big Catch of the Day
All
Decorated Boats will be judged by an esteemed panel of local Judges. Bragging
rights in various categories will be awarded, including "The Best Decorated
Boat" from all among all boats participating. Winners in the Pleasure Craft
category will be awarded a beautiful engraved plaque commemorating the achievement. Commercial Fishing Boats and Commercial
Charter Boats will compete to win Big Cash Prizes! But remember: ONLY REGISTERED BOATS ARE ELIGIBLE
FOR PRIZES
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Boaters turn out for
Blessing of the Fleet
HISTORY:
The Blessing of the Fleet is a Tradition Deeply Ingrained in our Bayside
History: For 35 years, the 1st Sunday in August began in our fishing
community as a celebration of the opening of the big-net shrimping season
invoking the blessings of God for a bountiful
catch, for the safety of boats and crews, and for the continued propagation
of the species
that sustained the industry. The Blessing of the Fleet now
includes all commercial and
recreational boats, as well as all crews. The Blessing was designed to be fun and
entertaining, but on a more serious level, the emphasis was always on the spiritual
acknowledgment that God is in charge.
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ANCIENT HISTORY: Long before the Kemah tradition, the original ceremonial
Blessing of the Fleet had its beginnings at the Council of Nicia in 325 AD. It was
then believed that on an Ethereal, Environmental and Eternal level all people
were linked, therefore responsible for one another and therefore also called
by God to be good, responsible stewards of the environment to insure their
survival and a bountiful day's catch. What was true almost 2000 years ago
for those early fisherman is still truth today for our commercial fishing
industry and the recreational boating communities: That to insure the
survival of both, the commercial fishing and recreational boating industries
must work together.
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Date: Sunday, August 3,2003
Boat Line Up: 1:00PM (in Clear Lake)
Parade Starts: 2:00PM
Awards Ceremony: 4:30PM IN THE PLAZA KEMAH (BOARDWALK BAND STAND)
Location: OF JUDGES and CLERGY Cadillac Authentic Mexican Restaurant Deck
Online Registration Click Here
CLERGY FOR EVENT |
Monsignor Cargill | |
St. Mary's Catholic Church | |
League City, TX | |
281-332-3031 |
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Rev. David Wright | |
Southshore Non-Denominational Church | |
Kemah, TX | |
281-538-1751 |
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The Ceremonial
Wreath is by
603 6th Street
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