Navy Memorial to Celebrate Reopening with Blessing of the Fleet Ceremony and Ribbon Cutting

The United States Navy Memorial will host its annual Blessing of the Fleet ceremony on Saturday, April 9th at 1:00 pm Eastern (ET) on Navy Memorial Plaza. This event will also be streamed online for those who wish to watch the ceremony from home.  

The Blessing of the Fleet is a centuries-old tradition that protects sailors from the dangers of the sea. This tradition goes back to ancient times and is meant to safeguard ships and their crew members after an offering is made at the water’s edge.  

Each year, starting in 1987 when it was dedicated, the Navy Memorial brings its outdoor fountains to life with water provided by the U.S. Navy from the Seven Seas and the Great Lakes.

This event will also mark the first time the fountains have been "charged" in three years due to the significant amount of work that has been done, along with the Navy Memorial’s first public event as it comes out of the pandemic. 

A ribbon-cutting ceremony celebrating the beginning of “Navy Memorial 2.0” and the reopening of the Navy Memorial Visitor Center, along with a reception featuring Navy Bean Soup from the White House Mess, will follow. 

Follow the Navy Memorial on Facebook or visit www.NavyMemorial.org for the latest updates around this event. 

The Navy Memorial is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization whose mission is to Honor, Recognize and Celebrate the men and women of the Sea Services, past, present, and future; and to Inform the public about their service. Our offices are located at 701 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Suite 123, Washington, DC 20004. To learn more, visit us online at www.NavyMemorial.org.