LAKE ST. JOHN, La. — William Coleman has lived on Lake St. John most of his life, and he considers the annual Blessing of the Flotilla a Thanksgiving of sorts. Nevermind that it’s always held on the Fourth of July weekend.

&uot;This place is a small community. Everybody knows each other, and we socialize together all year,&uot; he said Saturday. &uot;The flotilla is our Thanksgiving. This way we can show our appreciation for the privilege we have of living here. That’s why it’s so special.&uot;

During this year’s eighth annual Blessing of the Flotilla, John Deere tractors, the Village People and pirate ships were some of the themes that took to the water Saturday to be blessed and judged.

Flotilla committee and organizer Glenda Lewis said three categories of judging in the boats helps to ensure a well-rounded competition. The categories are patriotic, non patriotic and small craft.

&uot;They come up with the cutest ideas up here,&uot; Lewis said as a personal watercraft decorated as a butterfly skimmed past.

Richard Alwood said the committee in charge of judge selection needed guidelines for the process.

&uot;The criteria that we came up with was unprecedented. One — they must live far enough away from the flotilla entrants as to never suffer repercussions as a result of their decisions,&uot; he said with a laugh. &uot;And two — they absolutely must be able to have a good time.&uot;

The five judges were asked to individually judge each of the float boats or small craft in the non-patriotic or the patriotic category.

Lewis said that the judging criteria was based strictly on creativity, originality and spirit.

&uot;We want to know, are those people having a good time on that boat?&uot; she said.

As crowds gathered on piers along the seven and a half mile stretch of Lake St. John, boats began the parade route led by Sheriff Randy Maxwell’s Search and Rescue craft.

Grand Marshal Clyde Ray Webber stood on the bow of the first of the patriotic theme boats, waving at the crowds as the pontoon stopped at the Steckler’s pier to be blessed by the Rev. Walter Brown of St. Mary Basilica in Natchez and the Rev. Anthony &uot;Raj&uot; Dharmaraj of St. Patrick’s in Ferriday.

&uot;I needed that blessing, but they missed me at first,&uot; Webber said. &uot;So we backed up and went again.&uot;

As the procession passed there were piers decorated in everything from a traditional Fourth of July theme to a bigger than life sized alligator and a paradise island complete with pirates.

Flotilla Queen Norma Jean Price said she believes she is well qualified for her position this year.

&uot;The criteria for being Flotilla Queen is great — you’ve got to be over 40 and own property on the lake,&uot; she said with a laugh. &uot;I definitely feel that I met or exceeded the qualifications.&uot;