[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 163 (2017), Part 7]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 9548]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




IN RECOGNITION OF WE KAYAK GROSSE ILE ON THE DATE OF ITS SECOND ANNUAL 
                         BLESSING OF THE FLEET

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                          HON. DEBBIE DINGELL

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 20, 2017

  Mrs. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize WE Kayak Grosse 
Ile on the date of the organization's second annual Blessing of the 
Fleet. WE Kayak provides structured recreational activities accessible 
to all members of the Downriver community in the Grosse Ile's 
waterways.
  Originally started in 2012, WE Kayak is a Grosse Ile-based 
organization that organizes weekly paddles available to the general 
public on the waterways in and around Grosse Ile, Michigan. The 
organization is active from Memorial Day through Labor Day, and has 
grown substantially from its initial group of six kayakers. Today, WE 
Kayak hosts several dozen members of the community each week to 
participate in exploring the waters while engaging with each other. The 
organization also hosts an annual Blessing of the Fleet, where WE 
Kayak, along with other members of the community, honor Kayakers who 
have passed and bless those who regularly go out on the water. This 
free community initiative has helped engage Grosse Ile residents while 
providing opportunities for physical recreation.
  Initiatives like WE Kayak help bring the community together while 
allowing members to explore and appreciate the natural beauty around 
the Grosse Ile area. As the only organized public paddle on Grosse Ile, 
WE Kayak has played a key role in promoting physical activity and 
engagement while introducing new members of the organizations to a 
community of like-minded kayakers and nature enthusiasts. The group 
also serves as a forum for individuals to exchange information about 
other water sports events in the area, and it is my hope that WE Kayak 
continues to provide access opportunities for recreation for all 
individuals in the Grosse Ile area in the coming years.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring WE Kayak on 
the date of the organization's second annual Blessing of the Fleet. WE 
Kayak has helped individuals explore Grosse Ile's waterways and foster 
a strong community.

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