Annual 'Blessing Of The Fleet' Moved Closer To Shore On Sunday

The Berkeley Shores Homeowners and Civic Association's annual "Blessing of the Fleet" and boat parade slated for Sunday will be held as close to Amherst Beach as possible, due to expected rough bay and wind conditions.

Boats usually chug out to Buoy #39 for the event. But this year, participants won't have to go far. The lead boat Ohana will be positioned just beyond the Buoy #2, where Rev. Stanley Pl Lukaszewski, the pastor of St. Barnabas R. C. Church, in Bayville will bless the boats, the Berkeley Shores website states.

It's not your routine blessing. Like pastors before him, Father Lukaszewski will bless the boats by shooting water at them with a Super Shooter as they pass by. All vessels will leave the main Berkeley Shores lagoon from the staging area basin under the direction of patrol boats, Guillotine, piloted by Capt. Bill McGrath and Sushi Hunter, piloted by Capt. Bob Nunn. They will be assisted by Dennis and Barbara Narehood of the U.S. Coast Guard.

Once your boat has been blessed, move to the commemoration area north of the main inlet, several hundred feet of the beach to wait for the Memorial Ceremony.

Mayor Carmen F. Amato Jr., Council President John Bacchione, Sgt. Joseph Robertazzi will speak. Councilman James J. Byrnes, a Vietnam veteran and Purple Heart recipient, wil dedicate the memorial wreath to be place on the water.

Navy Hymn Taps trumpeters Bill Haughwout and Kelly Hartman will play.

Boaters and residents can also place live flowers on the water.

A barbeque picnic will be held after the ceremony from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. on Amherst Beach.