Cape May Harbor Fest shines a light on the Fisherman’s Memorial

This year’s Cape May Harbor Fest, set to take place June 19 and 20, takes on a renewed awareness and appreciation for the waters, marine environment, and local economy.
Commercial fishing in Cape May accounts for nearly $60 million of business each year. Add to that charter boats, party boats, and the recreational fisher who commutes here, one can easily see how important the harbor is.
In 1984, a group of 15 interested local residents led by Beech Fox, once the sheriff of Cape May County and a friend of the fishing community, got together to plan a fisherman’s memorial in Cape May.
Given the intense maritime history of the area from the days of pirates to the thriving commercial and recreational fishing industry today, it seemed a logical and necessary memorial.
For two years the committee raised funds to develop the site. A piece of land on the harbor at the end of Missouri Ave., just off Delaware Ave. was donated to the project by the City of Cape May, and a contest was held for students in Lower Township schools to design what they thought the memorial should be.
Heather Baird, then a sixth grader, came up with the sketch of the woman and her two small children looking out to sea. Her drawing became the focal point. With approximately $150,000 raised, the site was prepared and dedicated in 1986.
This year visitors will be poignantly reminded of the dangers inherent in fishing and boating. When the FV Lady Mary sank on March 24 of this year with the loss of six crewmen, the entire community reacted.
Now, as the Harbor Fest celebration is planned, the kick-off event is a solemn Blessing of the Waters and Memorial Service at 7 p.m., Friday at the Fisherman’s Memorial.
Three local clergy members, Reverend Jeff Elliott, of Cape May Lutheran Church, Reverend Joan Jackson, Cape May Episcopal Church and Commander Barrett, chaplain, United States Coast Guard, will officiate at the Memorial Service and laying of the wreath. The clergy will also bless the waters praying for a healthy, safe, productive season.
The USCG Honor Guard and Band will participate in the ceremony. Friends and family of the Lady Mary crew, including some from North Carolina, are coming to the solemn ceremony.
Gretchen Ferrante, sanctuary director for the Nature Center of Cape May, expressed the hope that the spotlight on the Fisherman’s Memorial would bring greater interest in the site.
In 2008 a complete clean-up was done at the memorial site. The Nature Center, Cape May Shade Commission, the Cape May Garden Club and John McNulty of Bayshore Landscaping all lent a hand. Ferrante said since then the Nature Center sets up clean-up days and keeps an unofficial eye on the memorial site.
In May of this year, a new committee was formed called Friends of the Fisherman’s Memorial.
“The goal is to have the ‘Friends of the Fisherman’s Memorial’ take over the routine care and upkeep of the site, add names as necessary, organize and host the memorial service, and possibly even set up a scholarship fund for the children of lost fishermen,” Ferrante said.
Jeff Reichle of Lund’s Fisheries was one of the original planners of the site and is active in the new Friends of the Fisherman’s Memorial.
“It’s time to give the memorial the attention it deserves,” Reichle said in a recent interview. “It’s an important part of the community.
“The seafood industry in Cape May is really a family business with some companies being run by third and fourth generations, and it’s an industry that supplies year round jobs. People sometimes forget that.”
If you cannot make it to the memorial service, do try to get over to the site for a visit during Harbor Fest. The poignant statue, the wall of names of lost seamen, the mementos left in their honor, and the lovely gardens will stir you. Perhaps then you will become a ‘Friend of the Fisherman’s Memorial.’
Following the ceremony, the public is invited to the Nature Center, 1600 Delaware Ave., a short walk from the memorial site, and enjoy refreshments, music, campfire and marshmallow roast, all part of a ‘summer solstice’ celebration.
—Those interested in becoming a member of the Friends of the Fisherman’s Memorial should contact Ferrante at 609-898-8848.)