Tag Archives: grand marshal
70 years and counting: Stonington Blessing of the Fleet returns this weekend
Born in the Azores, an island in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Portugal, Manuel Raymond Rezendes’ grandfather and father came to the U.S. more than a century ago. Members of his family have worked in the fishing industry ever since. A third-generation fisherman, Rezendes said it is difficult to attract younger workers. It is a taxing career with early mornings and long trips, hard labor and extreme danger at times. He’s been struck in the chest with ropes, knocked overboard and has lived to tell the tale. Others, including his grandfather, Manuel “Fayal” Perry Rezendes, have not been so fortunate. “Fishing has been part of our family since as long as I can remember, and it is important to honor the traditions and sacrifices that came with that,” said Rezendes, who will serve as the grand marshal for the 70th annual Blessing of the Fleet this weekend. >click to read< 17:20
Joe Henry, ‘the fox’ of lobstermen, to lead Stonington’s Blessing of Fleet parade on Sunday
Back in the day, Joe Henry was really good at lobstering, so good in fact, that his fellow lobstermen in the Borough would call him “the fox” because he was so sly, knew all the best places to find the crustaceans and would always bring in the largest catch. “I did it for a good 50 years and would often bring in 200 to 300 pounds in one tide. Those were the good old days,” the 90-year-old resident said while holding a photo of himself lobstering nearly 40 years ago. “I was a lobsterman all my life. It’s just what I did.” His dedication to the local fishing and lobstering industry and to the sea is the reason that Mike and Georgia Crowley, organizers of the 63rd annual Blessing of the Fleet, asked him to be the grand marshal for the procession during this year’s event. Read the rest here 10:39
