photo by Hannah Reel

Rev. Louis Sklar of St. Patrick Catholic Church in Ferriday, blesses boaters as they pass the Steckler family pier on Lake St. John Saturday afternoon.

Flotilla all about family, friends, Fourth

By Jennifer Edwards (Contact) | The Natchez Democrat

Published Sunday, July 5, 2009

FERRIDAY — On docks up and down Lake St. John, the scene was much the same. Smoke billowed from grills, coolers sat packed with ice and drinks and groups of folks young and old enjoyed relief from the July heat with a dip in the lake.

And for lake-goers like Jessica Marchbanks, there is no place she would rather be, especially when the calendar says it is the Fourth of July.

“The Fourth is all about flotilla and the lake,” she said. “I wouldn’t be anywhere else.”

And by the number of cars that crowded the lake neighborhoods, Marchbanks wasn’t alone in her love for the lake life.

On this particular Fourth of July, Marchbanks was taking a break from the sun and water to push her 23-month-old nephew, Houston Edwards in the swing.

“His birthday is soon so this is like one big celebration for that for him,” she said. “He’s been coming here since he was born and this is the first time he really enjoyed it.”

But while Marchbanks and Houston were taking a break from the water, there was still plenty of activity to be enjoyed on the lake.

Brightly colored inner tubes dotted the water close to piers while a multitude of boats floated leisurely in the waters near the center of the lake. For many families the Fourth of July is a pseudo-family reunion. And that was the case at the Steckler family lake house where three generations of Stecklers enjoyed all the day had to offer — including a prime viewing spot for the annual flotilla.

The Steckler’s pier was the location for the blessing of the fleet.

This year’s “Cruzin with Lady Liberty” theme was depicted with boats decked out in red, white and blue streamers, flags and banners. But for some, the patriotic theme was more loosely interpreted.

One boat was decorated like a classic Volkswagen and blasted “Love Shack” as it stopped for a blessing and sprinkling of holy water from St. Patrick’s Catholic Church pastor the Rev. Louis Sklar.

Others celebrated freedom by dressing up like legendary American rock band Kiss and playing some of the band’s biggest hits as they stopped to be blessed and then judged for the boat decorating contest.

Sklar sprinkled one boat and in return, the boat’s passengers tossed several strands of beads.

“They toss all sorts of things, beads and candy,” he said.

The crowd at the lake seemed a little larger this year than in years past, Dale Steckler said.

“The fact that the Fourth is on a Saturday probably had a lot to do with that,” she said. “Flotilla is always on a Saturday but this Saturday actually being the Fourth probably brought out more people.”

But for her family, they wouldn’t miss a flotilla no matter the date it landed it on.

“My children and their children and other family members are always here,” she said.

“It’s a good family time for us.”

Steckler’s daughter Stephanie Bryson and her husband and children spent the day in the lake before taking a seat on the second floor of the pier to take in the flotilla.

Bryson lives in Jackson now, but every year she comes back to the Miss-Lou for the flotilla.

“We wouldn’t miss it,” she said.

And from her observations, plenty of others share her enthusiasm.

“We came in the Waterproof way and there are cars everywhere,” she said. “Everyone who has a place out here is here, plus some.”