Images from the 65th annual Blessing of the Fleet in Bayou La Batre, Alabama, May 4, 2014. The first fleet blessing was held by St. Margaret's Catholic Church in 1949, carrying on a long European tradition of asking God's favor for a bountiful seafood harvest and protection from the perils of the sea. The highlight of the event is a blessing of the boats by the local Catholic archbishop and the tossing of a ceremonial wreath in memory of those who have lost their lives at sea. The event also includes a land parade and a parade of decorated boats that slowly cruise through the bayou.