European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - August 13, 1988, Darmstadt, Hesse                                A ail Ywit . Navy s destroyer tender Yosemite and guided missile Cruiser Belknap were in the Bay of Gaeta during this year s fishermen s festival. Gaeta s seagoing Madonna Madonna of Safe Harbor Patron of fishermen at Gaeta Italy is escorted aboard a freshly scrubbed boat. Story and photos by Alba Bragoli Mediterranean bureaus aeta an italian fishing town 70 Miles North of Naples Home port of the 6th Fleet flagship enjoys throwing a Good party and inviting its american friends to join in. The first sunday in August the town holds the festival of the sea one of the Region s most colourful ceremonies. With the blaring of bands ringing of Bells dancing singing eating and drinking the town s fishermen then give their thanks for the sea s Providence. We work awfully hard All year and we want to show our gratitude and share our Joy with everybody especially when like this year no one has been lost out to sea said Antonio Bruni a local Fisherman who has been sailing for 58 years. The focal Point of the festivity is the procession on sunday afternoon when a statue of the Madonna of Safe Harbor the fishermen s Patron is escorted by the entire population to the fishermen s wharf. There the town s dignitaries embark onto a freshly scrubbed fishing boat As the Madonna is perched atop the Pilot s Cabin. Those who cannot get on the Lead boat then pile on any of the hundreds of fishing and pleasure boats and follow the seagoing Madonna across the Blue Waters of the Bay of Gaeta. This year the guided missile Cruiser Belknap the destroyer tender Yosemite and the fast frigate Capodanno were in the Bay of Gaeta during the festival. The Crews were invited to participate in the merrymaking. The captains of the Navy vessels As Well As the commanding officer of the naval support activity detachment of Gaeta were asked aboard the Lead boat to join the mayor of Gaeta the Bishop and other local dignitaries. When the flotilla headed into the Gulf the . Ships sat in stately attendance at full dress and several . Navy Liberty boats pulled away from their flanks to join saturday August 13, 1988 the at sea procession. As the Lead boat passed the bows of the Belknap and the Yosemite the warships heralded a Salute with powerful blasts of their whistles. The fishing boats responded with a choir of Bellows whistles and Bells the colourful cruise then proceeded toward the Capodanno where a ceremonial Laurel Wreath was cast upon the Waters. It was a special thought for a special ship. The Capodanno holds a unique place in the hearts of the Gaetans As it is named after chaplain it Vincent r. Capodanno a roman Catholic priest whose parents emigrated from Gaeta to the United states in the 1920s. Capodanno was killed in Vietnam in 1967 while administering last rites to a Marine. His Story prompted the formation of an italian american association to promote social and cultural exchanges. We have been friends with the americans for a Long Long time said Michele Cuoco president of the association. We Are Happy that our friends came to share our traditions and joined our party " the stars and stripes Page 13