50th Annual Blessing of the Fleet

Mariners' Church of Detroit
March 9, 2014

Numerous members of the ISMA participated in the Blessing of the Fleet on Sunday, March 9 at Mariners' Church of Detroit.
Fr. William Fleming, Rector of Mariners' Church, officiated at the service.

Four ISMA members were recipients of the Capt. Lewis Ludington Awards:
Capt. Seann O'Donoughue, Past Grand President from Georgian Bay-Huronia Lodge No. 15
Capt. Robert Haller, Past Grand President from Toledo Lodge No. 9
Capt. Steven Nelson, past President of Detroit Lodge No. 7
Capt. Dean Hobbs (posthumous), Past Grand President from Grand Traverse Lodge No. 23

Serving in the honor guard were:
Art Brooks, Sam Buchanan, Jay Downen, PGP Ron Ingram, Ron LaPlante, Joe Mastripolito, Kathy McGraw, PGP Tom McMullen, Steve Nelson, Ray Oset, Scott Reynolds and
Rick Scott of Detroit Lodge No. 7; Brian Eickel, and Roger Hewlett of Port Huron Lodge No. 2; PGP Bob Haller of Toledo Lodge No. 9; ISMA Grand First Vice President Joe Walters of Twin Ports Lodge No. 12; PGP Seann O'Donoughue of Georgian Bay-Huronia Lodge No. 15; ISMA Grand President Robert Schallip and Mary Ann Schallip of Twin Sault Lodge No. 22; and PGP Rebecca Hancock of Grand Traverse Lodge No. 23. Paul Jagenow of Detroit Lodge No. 7, Phil Knetchel of Toledo Lodge No. 9 and Rear Admiral Gerald Achenbach of Grand Traverse Lodge No. 23 were in the congregation.

Serving in additional capacities during the service:
Scott Reynolds served as reader during the presentation of the Capt. Lewis Ludington Awards with lodge President Rick Scott representing Detroit Lodge No. 7 and Jason Ludington, grandson of Ivan Ludington, representing the Ludington family; Kathy McGraw of Detroit Lodge No. 7 served as necrologist, reading the names of deceased mariners; lodge President Richard Scott tolled the Octorora bell for deceased mariners; Ray Oset, Tom McMullen, Art Brooks and Roger Hewlett presented the wreaths that represented loss by storm, reef, fire, and collision; and Ron Ingram and Sam Buchanan were receivers of pennants, burgees and fleet flags.

(click on photos to enlarge)

Side altar with Octorora bell, ship model, telescope and Capt. Lewis Ludington's ISMA pennant	Shipmasters assembled in church pews	main altar with ship model	Shipmasters assembled in church pews
side view of main altar and ship model	Fr. Bill Fleming begins the service	view of service from rear of church	Capt. Seann O'Donoughue (of Lodge 15) on altar to receive Ludington Award
Capt. O'Donoughue with Ludington Award	Capt. Robert Haller (Toledo Lodge No. 9) on altar to receive Ludington Award	Capt. Haller with Ludington Award	Capt. Steven Nelson (Detroit Lodge No. 7) on altar to receive Ludington Award
Capt. Nelson with Ludington Award	Capt. Dean Hobbs (Grand Traverse Lodge 23) posthumous award received by his nephew Thomas Frazee	honor guard on altar	Capt. Kathleen McGraw, necrologist, reads names of deceased mariners
view of honor guard from side of church	Lodge President Richard Scott tolls the Octorora bell for deceased mariners	view of honor guard from rear of church	view of honor guard from side of church
Irene Scott presents flag of Detroit Lodge No. 7 Auxiliary	Rear Admiral Gerald Achenbach presents Great Lakes Maritime Academy flag	Capt. Rick Scott, President of Detroit Lodge No. 7, presents lodge flag	Capt. Robert Schallip (Twin Sault Lodge No. 22) presents his ISMA Grand President flag
PGP Capt. Thomas McMullen (Detroit Lodge No. 7) presents his Grand President flag	PGP Capt. Rebecca Hancock (Grand Traverse Lodge 23) presents her Grand President flag	Mary Ann Ingram presents Capt. Ron Ingram's personal ISMA pennant	Jessica Buchanan presents J.W. Westcott Co. flag
Capt. Wade Streeter presents personal pennant of Capt. Dean Hobbs, posthumous Ludington Award recipient	Major James Booth presents U.S. Army Corps. of Engineers flag	Constable Walter Silver presents R.C.M.P. flag	Constable Silver and Capt. Ron Ingram
Mariners' Church flag presented	Capt. Ron Ingram & RCMP Constable Walter Silver pose with toy RCMP horse	Current and former ISMA Grand Presidents: Capt. Thomas McMullen Capt. Rebecca Hancock Capt. Robert Schallip Capt. Seann O'Donoughue Capt. Ron Ingram Capt. Robert Haller	Grand President Robert Schallip and Grand First Vice President Joe Walters

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