Despite the constant flow of travelers passing through the Peace Arch border, the seaside city of Blaine maintains a distinct small-town charm. In the heart of downtown, residents call out greetings to familiar faces as they stroll streets lined with local restaurants, boutiques, and salons. From my seat at the Portal Way Starbucks, I can see boats of all sizes dotting the blue-green waves of the Salish Sea.
These sea-faring vessels are indicative of Blaine’s fishing industry, which has been prevalent since the city was first established as a seaport in the mid-19th century. Though it has declined due to factors such as stricter regulations, overfishing, and economic challenges, the local fishing community is no less robust and tight-knit. This is particularly showcased by an event hosted each year by the Fisherman’s Memorial Committee, along with the Blaine Chamber of Commerce and Port of Bellingham: The Blessing of the Fleet.
The Blessing of the Fleet is a tradition spanning centuries. Hundreds of years ago in southern Europe, Catholic priests blessed the boats of religious fishing communities to ensure a bountiful season. The Fisherman’s Memorial Committee first brought the ceremony to Blaine in 1984 with a dual purpose: to bless the ships of the city’s harbor, and to honor community members whose lives were lost at sea.
For Gary Dunster, a longtime Blaine resident and crab fisherman, the ceremony holds deep personal significance. A member of the Fisherman’s Memorial Committee since 1987, he has known many of those honored at the annual ceremony. But Dunster is adamant that the ceremony does not center around individual recognition or the committees that host it—instead, the Blessing of the Fleet serves as closure for many members in the community.
“Since the turn of the century, we’ve kept track of all the people that have been lost at sea. And what the blessing is about is remembering those people every year…you have to keep in mind that most of the ones that were lost, if not all, were never recovered. So this is always a time for [loved ones] to get some closure,” says Dunster.
Photograph courtesy of Andrew Peterson
The Blessing of the Fleet is truly a celebration of unity, bringing together locals, community leaders, and state representatives alike. And though the ceremony may be rooted in Catholic tradition, Dunster emphasizes that the two-hour event focuses on community, rather than the factors that may divide those within it.
“The committee’s policy has been that we don’t use this platform for politics. We don’t use it for religion. We don’t discriminate in any way, on any religion…we make sure that we get all different representations in the community to participate,” says Dunster.
The order of events is laid out on a program each year: A flag ceremony, followed by the pledge of allegiance. Then, a State Senate Resolution, performed by a state representative, and the blessing of the fleet, offered by a local minister. A city resolution is given by the mayor of Blaine, and a musical interlude precedes the ceremony’s somber conclusion: the memorial.
Photograph by Sofia Bouma
This year, the memorial will maintain the same structure as it has since its origin in 1984. Dunster will begin by reading the names of the 44 individuals who have been lost at sea, dating back to the early 1900s. After each name is announced, a ship’s bell will be rung in their honor. Dunster will then read the names of community members lost at home since the previous year’s blessing of the fleet.
Whether the loss occurred at sea or at home, a friend or family member will place a flower on the memorial wreath for each name mentioned. The ceremony will conclude with a Blaine local taking the flower-laden wreath out to sea and releasing it into the water.
Andrew Peterson, a member of the Fisherman’s Memorial Committee and Blaine Harbormaster since 2010, is honored to be a part of this decades-old ceremony. Blaine is a city built with the ocean at its heart—along with the blessings and challenges that accompany it.
“Blaine is a seafaring town. We were built off logging and fishing, and what’s left is fishing. There’s a culture in commercial fishing…there’s a family here. Even if it’s competitive because everyone is harvesting a resource… there’s a real comradery. What’s good for your neighbor is good for the community,” says Peterson.
Blaine will host its 41st Blessing of the Fleet during the first week of May, as it has for almost half a century. For some, the ceremony is celebratory; for others, it is an event of sacred remembrance. But for all, the Blessing of the Fleet is an opportunity to come together and embrace the significance of community, a sentiment sure to hold for many years to come.
