WASHINGTON (April 16, 2016) Navy Ceremonial Guard’s Seaman Benjamin Dagostino, right and Seaman Bradley Biggs, left, carry water from the Seven Seas and Great Lakes for the 25th Annual Blessing of the Fleets ceremony at the Navy Memorial. The Blessing of the Fleets ritual is intended to safeguard crews and ships from the danger of the seas through a blessing given by a clergyman at the water’s edge. During the ceremony, Sailors from the Navy’s Ceremonial Guard and Marines from the Marine Barracks, Washington, DC, proceeded across the outdoor plaza’s “Granite Sea” and poured

---

WASHINGTON (April 16, 2016) Navy Ceremonial Guard’s Seaman Benjamin Dagostino, right and Seaman Bradley Biggs, left, carry water from the Seven Seas and Great Lakes for the 25th Annual Blessing of the Fleets ceremony at the Navy Memorial. The Blessing of the Fleets ritual is intended to safeguard crews and ships from the danger of the seas through a blessing given by a clergyman at the water’s edge. During the ceremony, Sailors from the Navy’s Ceremonial Guard and Marines from the Marine Barracks, Washington, DC, proceeded across the outdoor plaza’s “Granite Sea” and poured the water into the surrounding fountains, “charging” them to life and welcoming the spring season.

---

Size: 1731px × 1155px
Photo credit: © RP Library / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: air, america, archive, armed, army, barracks, blessing, ceremonical, corps, defence, fleets, force, forces, guard, marine, memorial, military, navy, nmcs, reportage, service, serviceman, servicemen, soldier, states, united, usa, washington