
                         THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
                 Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, June 25, 1994                    TAG: 9406250196 
SECTION: LOCAL                     PAGE: B4    EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA  
SOURCE: STAFF REPORT 
DATELINE: 940625                                 LENGTH: WANCHESE

BLESSING OF FLEET TO OPEN WANCHESE FESTIVAL TODAY

{LEAD} The Rev. David Daniels of the Outer Banks Worship Center will be one of three ministers conducting the ``Blessing of the Fleet'' service at 11:30 a.m. today to open the 12th annual Wanchese Seafood Festival at the Wanchese Seafood Industrial Park.

The blessing - a tradition in many fishing communities - is ``a time when we get together and make a few statements and just pray'' for the safety and good fortune of those who make a living from the water, Daniels said.

{REST} ``We also try to remember the families of those who have lost people at sea,'' he said. ``Their life is put on the line every time they go out.''

Music, food, children's activities and displays and demonstrations will follow the blessing.

At one stand, participants will taste samples of seafood, such as squid, cooked on site.

There will be a display on the history of commercial fishing, and the Coast Guard will perform a rescue demonstration, said Rich Novak, the festival coordinator.

Novak said one popular event will be the ``flounder fling,'' which involves tossing live flounder into cold frying pans. by CNB