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)

1
Side altar with Octorora bell, ship model,
telescope and Capt. Lewis Ludington's ISMA pennant

2
Shipmasters assembled in church pews
3
main altar with ship model
4
Shipmasters assembled in church pews
5
side view of main altar and ship model
6
Fr. Bill Fleming begins the service
7
view of service from rear of church
8
Capt. Seann O'Donoughue (of Lodge 15)
on altar to receive Ludington Award
9
Capt. O'Donoughue with Ludington Award
10
Capt. Robert Haller (Toledo Lodge No. 9)
on altar to receive Ludington Award

11
Capt. Haller with Ludington Award
12
Capt. Steven Nelson (Detroit Lodge No. 7)
on altar to receive Ludington Award

13
Capt. Nelson with Ludington Award
14
Capt. Dean Hobbs (Grand Traverse Lodge 23)
posthumous award received by his
nephew Thomas Frazee

15
honor guard on altar
16
Capt. Kathleen McGraw, necrologist,
reads names of deceased mariners

17
view of honor guard from side of church
18
Lodge President Richard Scott tolls the
 Octorora bell for deceased mariners

19
view of honor guard from rear of church
20
view of honor guard from side of church
21
Irene Scott presents flag of
Detroit Lodge No. 7
Auxiliary
22
Rear Admiral Gerald Achenbach presents
Great Lakes Maritime Academy flag

23
Capt. Rick Scott, President of Detroit
Lodge No. 7, presents lodge flag

24
Capt. Robert Schallip (Twin Sault Lodge No.
22) presents his ISMA Grand President flag

25
PGP Capt. Thomas McMullen (Detroit Lodge
No. 7)  presents his Grand President flag

26
PGP Capt. Rebecca Hancock (Grand Traverse
Lodge 23) presents her Grand President flag

27
Mary Ann Ingram presents Capt.
Ron Ingram's personal ISMA pennant

28
Jessica Buchanan presents
J.W. Westcott Co. flag

29
Capt. Wade Streeter presents personal
pennant of Capt. Dean Hobbs, posthumous
Ludington Award recipient

30
Major James Booth presents
U.S. Army Corps. of Engineers flag

31
Constable Walter Silver
presents R.C.M.P. flag

32
Constable Silver and Capt. Ron Ingram
33
Mariners' Church flag presented
34
Capt. Ron Ingram & RCMP Constable
Walter Silver pose with toy RCMP horse

35
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

36
Grand President Robert Schallip and
Grand First Vice President Joe Walters

 

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